TOPIC:

I took a brief look at both the main and supplementary volumes in WO100/77 and found your man on page number 167 of the main volume in respect of the 1896 medal and page number 36 in the Mashonaland 1897 volume in respect of the clasp mentioned in the catalogue.
The former entry is for his service with the Natal Troop and he is shown as the fourth man down from Captain Taylor, the rank given is Troop Sergeant Major, as is usual for these men, an address is also given, in his particular case, it is that of his home, here in Great Britain, number 106 Pinner Road, Watford, Herts i.e. Hertfordshire.
In addition, there is annotation in the remarks column which suggests possible employment in Rhodesia itself, "C/o Pauling & Co Ltd Umtali" I dare say that might have been a land management and mining company, or, I would think an engineering company, given what was actually happening in Rhodesia at that point in time.

The entry in the latter volume is service with the Rhodesia Horse Volunteers and clearly shows his entitlement to the clasp, the rank given is once again that of TSM, whilst there is nothing in the remarks column, the address shown is W Bull, 106 Pinner Road, Watford Hertfordshire, there is no further annotation in this particular volume

I have taken a brief look at this and W Bull will have been his father William, I checked both RG10 and RG11 for 1871 and 1881 respectively, he appears to have been born in 1869 to William and Harriet Bull, who were living on Pinner Road, in addition, there is a christening date of the 4th of April 1869 which does appear to be him, simply because his parentage is clearly shown, RG 11 shows him as an agricultural labourer when aged twelve years, he was Williams second son and fourth child at that point.

Detail from WO100/77

Detail from WO100/77 continued.

WO100/77 continued.

Frank

Many thanks for all that information. It is exactly what I needed to get started on the George Bull project. It clears up the potential muddle with the other George Bull in Maritzburg, which is a big step forward. I suspect that TSM Bull must have had prior service in the Imperial military before his arrival in Maritzburg, hence his rapid promotion in the Natal Troop. Many men who had been garrisoned in Maritzburg settled there afterwards.

There has been a surprising delay in the delivery of my spoils from City Coins, so I do not yet have Bull's medal - I had expected it on Wednesday. In the meantime, I purchased a Mashonaland 1897 clasp from a dealer in Yorkshire on Friday morning, and it was received by my son in Surrey on Saturday morning (see pic below), service that astounded me. (I have long been resigned to 'African time', which you may know about.)

Thank you again, Frank. You have been a good and helpful friend.

Regards
Brett

Hi Brett, Ill send you the email address of George Bulls Grand daughter who lives in PMB. George had quite a colourful past. She would be very happy to share info with you