7th IEE Member to Fall in World War 1 – Sapper W W Pullen

Sapper William Walter Pullen of the Divisional Engineers, Royal Naval Division, died 12 March 1915, the seventh member of the IEE to die in World War 1. He was the 1st Assistant Engineer in the Electricity Department of Leatherhead Corporation when the war was declared in summer 1914 and he relinquished his position shortly thereafter to serve in H M Forces.

Having enlisted in the newly raised Divisional Engineers, Royal Naval Division, in September 1914, Sapper Pullen’s unit was allotted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in early 1915 which set sail for the Dardanelles on 28th February 1915. Sapper Pullen embarked on board HMT Somali but whilst on the voyage he fell victim to ‘spotted fever’ and was landed at Malta. He passed away in the Royal Naval Hospital, Malta, on March 12 1915, just a few days after being put ashore.

A photograph of Sapper Pullen, and his obituary were published in the IEE World War I Honour Roll. The obituary has been reproduced below.