FULLICK BRAVERY

Over the years the Fullicks have been intrepid and dogged in feeding their families resorting to both poaching and stealing when necessary. This same intrepid & dogged characteristic has meant that they can also have more than their share of bravery as exemplified by the following examples.

Edward George Fullick - awarded the Board of Trade  Sea Gallantry Medal (Bronze) (The SGM) 1929

Gallant rescue off Durban
The fishing-vessel Bluff of Capetown left Durban on the 8th June 1929 for the fishing-grounds off North Sands and on the same day ran into squally weather. Early next day the wind had increased to gale force and a heavy sea swept the vessel, smashing the fishing-gear. Shortly afterwards, heavy seas washed three of the crew overboard; two succeeded in regaining the vessel and the other managed to cling to a raft which had broken adrift and was picked up later on the beach. A course was then set for Durban, but mooring wire fouled the propeller and stopped the engines. The crew were unable to clear the obstruction. The starboard anchor was let go, but lost. After drifting for awhile, the Bluff let go the port anchor and succeeded in anchoring some two and a half miles from the shore. .

About 7.30 am the Armadale Castle, en route from East London to Durban, was attracted by signals of distress made by the Bluff. Heavy seas were still running, but the Armadale Castle was manoeuvred into such a position that a lifeboat could be sent away. This boat was in command of Mr Fullick, Fourth Officer, and the men named. Approach to the wreck was very difficult, but Mr Fullick succeeded in getting alongside and took off seventeen of the crew of the Bluff before he was compelled to return to the Armadale Castle, as the lifeboat had shipped so much water as to be in danger of sinking. On return to the Armadale Castle, the life-boat was taken on board and the steamer was manoeuvred to a more favourable position in the hope of making a further trip to the Bluff, as there were five men still on board that vessel. Mr Fullick again took charge of the boat, which was manned by the men named. By skilful seamanship, Mr Fullick took the boat a second time alongside the Bluff and rescued the remainder of the crew.

 The rescue team was led by Edward George Fullick, Fourth Officer, accompanied by Ernest Alexander Irwin, Boatswain’s Mate, Frank Richard Dominees, Harry Henbest, Albert Notlers, Henry James Parnell, Leslie Thomas Pattinson, Joseph Edward Parkiss, George Stewart, William Albert Taylor, Norman Ward, Richard Walter Walton, Herbert Thomas Mark Wilcock, Able Seamen, and Henry Leale, Lamp-trimmer, of ss Armadale Castle

Edward Fullick - awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze medal 1895
Citation reads:  At great  personal risk, rescued, and Police Constable Campion attempted to rescue Miss Newton from drowning at Surbiton, on the 3rd September 1895.Constable Campion was given a testimonial on parchment.

Edward Fullick, Lighterman - awarded the Royal Humane Society Bronze clasp 1902

Citation reads: On the 15th December 1902, a girl accidentally fell into the Thames at Kingston, there being a strong stream running and the weather very cold. Fullick, at great risk, jumped in from the tug and rescued her.

It would be interesting to know if the first record refers to the same Edward Fullick who received the RHS medal and clasp.

William G Fullick - awarded the DFC and Cluster
381st Bombardment Group USAAF unit assigned to Station 167 - Ridgewell, England World War II
16 May 1944 General Order 373 awarded the DFC to William G. Fullick for extraordinary achievement as lead bombardier on six extremely successful missions. On 8th May 1944 William G. Fullick, who was from Houston, Texas and described as Group bombardier, had been promoted to Major.
3 August 1944 , awarded Cluster to the DFC for his accurate and skillful bombing on the mission of July 21. The superior results obtained, stated the station, were in a large measure attributable to the outstanding proficiency of Major Fullick.
(Information from official 381st Bomb Group (Heavy) Memorial Association & Triangle-L Society web site)
 

                                       © Jennifer Crawford