Category: Conscientious Objector, Military
Rank: Private
Regiment or Ship: Royal Fusiliers
Service Number(s): 291169
Occupation: The manager of an oil shop in Western-road, Bexhill
Date of Birth: 1889
Place of Birth: Hastings, Sussex
Date of Death: 04.08.1916
Place of Death: France & Flanders - Killed in action at the Battle of the Somme
Place of Burial / Memorials:
Grave unknown but his name appears on the memorial on the Thiepval Memorial – Pier and Face 8 C, 9 A, and 16 A.
Address: 22 Chandler Road, Bexhill
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
Parents
Ebenezer Thomas Truluck, born in September 1860, christened on 10th January 1862, in the parish of St. Clements, in Hastings, and Elizabeth Ann Truluck (née Bates), born in July of the same year, in the parish of All Saints, Hastings – the same parish in which they were to be married, in 1879, when both were just 19 years old.
Bertie Truluck never married.
Siblings:
Ebenezer Henry Trueluck born 21st July 1880, christened 19th November 1882, at All Saints, Hastings, Sussex. W0057 TRULUCK Ebenezer Henry (Gunner)
Elizabeth Phoebe. Truluck born 16 Jan 1885, christened 12 Oct 1887, at All Saints, Hastings, Sussex
Frederick Truluck, born 14 March 1895, in Hastings, Sussex C0012 TRULUCK Frederick (Private)
John Truluck, born Spring, 1892, in Hastings, Sussex C0013 TRULUCK John (Private)
May Violet Truluck, born 1888, in Hastings, Sussex.
Blossom Truluck born July-September 1901, in Bexhill, Sussex, died July-September, 1919, in Bexhill, Sussex.
Siblings’ Details:
Ebenezer Henry Truluck married Elizabeth Hoadley, on 31st Jan 1910, possibly in Bexhill. The official birth records only show one child, a daughter, Lily born on 22nd Oct 1910, at 27 Little Common Road, Bexhill.
Frederick Truluck married twice.First Marriage (Autumn 1916) – Frederick aged 19 married Elsie Mabel Kemp (born in Eastbourne in 1891) aged 25. The marriage took place in the district of Battle (possibly Bexhill). Elsie died in 1934, aged 38 in the parish of Hastings. Children of Frederick and Elsie Mabel Kemp were Cyril Frederick Truluck born June quarter of 1919, in Bexhill and Ronald John Truluck born March quarter of 1928 in Bexhill.
Second Marriage – to Dorothy May Vitler, in Bexhill 1935. Dorothy was born at 20 Preston Road, Sidley – her parents were Frederick and Mary Ann Vitler. Children of Frederick and Dorothy May Vitler were Ian Robert Truluck born 1936 in Bexhill and David Robert Truluck born 1937 in Bexhill.
First World War Experience
Bertie was a Conscientious Objector who went before only one Tribunal and then accepted their decision; that he would not be exempted but would serve as a regular soldier. The strange thing is that his brother Frederick, at the very same hearing, making the very same claims as Bertie, was given non-combat duties and joined the Non-Combatant Corps.
The only Army Record of Bertie’s to have survived the bombing in the Second World War is his medal card which only, gives the following information:-
“TRULUCK, Bertie, Royal Fusiliers, Private, Regimental No. GS/29169. The medals he was awarded, were the Victory Medal and the British Medal (These are listed on Medal Roll TP/104B11 Page 1157).”
It does not give his Theatre of War but we know from other sources that he served in the Western Theatre of War and died on 4th August 1916, somewhere in France and Flanders. The 9th Battalion of the City of London Regiment were in action at the Battle of Pozieres on the 3rd of August and were engaged in heavy fighting until they were withdrawn on the 9th. So it would have been during this battle that Bertie was killed.
C0011 (1) TRULUCK, Bertie (Private) Army Records
The following poem appeared in the Bexhill Chronicle dated 9th September 1916:
To Bert Trueluck
(A “conscientious objector” from Bexhill,
killed in France.)
We know not how he died, but only know
He fell while fighting bravely as a man;
And yet if his brief record we will scan
Some lesson for our leading will it show.
He took God’s word as light unto his feet,
And boldly vowed himself a man of peace;
The truth within, and enmity should cease,
And men as brothers all the world o’er meet.
Armed with this Faith he first denied his call,
Then made a lame surrender to the law;
But, when the blood-stained track in France he saw,
There on the field of honour he gave ALL.
The cry of widowed Rachel touched his heart,
He smote, as did his Saviour in “the mart”.
“ONE WHO KNEW HIM”
Bexhill, 3rd. August 1916
Additional Information
Other Addresses for Bertie:
1891 Census – 3, Aldborough Road, St. Leonards. Hastings
1901 Census – 17, Hamilton Road, Bexhill
Tribunal Reports
C0011 (2) TRULUCK, Bertie (Private) Tribunal Reports