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2816 Sapper
EDWARD JAMES MULLINS
Royal Engineers 

and 

18650 Sapper
STANLEY HAROLD MULLINS
Royal Engineers 

By 

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Edward De Santis, MSCE, BSAE, P.E., MinstRE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(February 2026) 

1. INTRODUCTION  

The two men covered in this research project were brothers who enlisted in the Royal Engineers well before the start of the Great War of 1914-1918.  Although this narrative is devoted primarily to their lives and service, mention also will be made of their father and two of their brothers who also served.  Of the four brothers who served in the Great War, these two Sappers were the only men of the family who sadly lost their lives on the Western Front.  

2. EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION

            Edward and Stanley were the third and sixth sons, respectively, of James William Mullins (1844-1923) and Mary Berth Mullins, née Hassell (1855-1930).  The Mullins also had five other sons and a daughter.  The composition of the Mullins family is shown in the 1891 Census below.  James William Mullins is shown in the census as a civilian, working as an attendant in an asylum. It is most likely that he was employed in the Oakwood Hospital.  Oakwood Hospital in Barming Heath near Maidstone was a psychiatric hospital founded in 1833 as the Kent County Lunatic Asylum.  In 1891 James was 46 years old.  A photograph of him (Figure 3 below), and presumably of Mary, posted on his family tree by Geoffrey Bennett, shows that he served in the Army.  If this photograph was taken on a date close to their wedding in 1875, then James would have been 31 years old at the time.  At that age he could have still been serving in the Forces. 

1891 Census of England 

TABLE NOTES:

1.      The names shown in parentheses have been added to show the full names of each individual as contained in the family tree.

2.      Barming is a civil parish in the Maidstone district of Kent.

Figure 3.  James William and Mary Berth Mullins, c. 1875.
(Image courtesy of Geoffrey Bennett) 

The photograph in Figure 3 is not clear enough to determine any regimental insignia on the uniform.  He is wearing a pillbox cap with an insignia on the front that appears to be a single metal chevron indicating the rank of Lance Corporal.  The lace pattern on his cap is indistinguishable due to the poor quality of the image.  This would tell his regiment if it could be seen clearly.  In any case, we know that the military background of the Mullins boys started at least with their father. 

The family composition in 1901 is shown in the census table below, with the family still residing in Barming, Kent. 

1901 Census of England 

Edward James Mullins had enlisted in the Royal Engineers in 1899 and he was in South Africa at the time of the 1901 Census, so he does not appear in the Table above.[1] 

At the time of the 1911 Census of England and Wales, Edward James Mullins and his wife Leydia Ellen Mullins, were living at 38 Crofts Building in Sheffield, Yorkshire.  His occupation is listed as a Carter for a Railway Company.  A railway carter was employed by a railway company to offload goods from a train at the station and deliver them around the district by horse and cart.[2]

Within a matter of three years, four of the six Mullins brothers would be in the Army, three in the British Army and one in the United States Army.  Three would be at war and one would be waiting to be sent to war. 

3.  EDWARD JAMES MULLINS 

Enlistment

            Edward James Mullins enlisted in the Royal Engineers, regimental number 2816, in June 1899.  It should be noted that the exact date of his enlistment is not known since his service papers could not be located.  However, based on the work of Stuart Gase, a good friend of the author, an ex-Sapper and historical researcher, Mullins regimental number places his date of enlistment in June of 1899. 

            At the time of his enlistment, Edward was 17 years and 9 months old.  With the possibility of war against the Boers in South Africa, the authorities may have overlooked the shortage of 3 months in order to get him on the rolls.  Following his attestation he surely was sent to the School of Military Engineering (SME) at Chatham, where he would be introduced to the duties of an engineer soldier. 

Training

            Mullins probably spent 1899 to 1901 at Chatham.  With the exception of Drivers, every recruit enlisted for the Royal Engineers had to have a trade.  Pioneers and Sappers were sent to Chatham where they were trained in infantry drill and pioneer duties.  The engineer recruits also received musketry training.  When the course of training was completed the recruits had to pass an examination and were then transferred to engineer formations, where they received higher pay and could earn extra allowances by working at their special trades.  When he left the SME in 1901 he was awarded the trade of Farrier.[3] 

Postings and Campaign Service     

            In 1902 Sapper Mullins was posted to the 59^th Field Company in Bloemfontein where he plied his trade as a Farrier.  He arrived after the Boer War in South Africa had ended, so he was not entitled to either of two campaign medals awarded for that war.  After a few years in South Africa, Mullins was posted to Gibraltar where he served with the 15^th Fortress Company.  The 15^th Fortress Company was relocated to Malta where it served from 1912 to 1914. [4]  At some point following the outbreak of the Great War, Mullins was transferred back to his old unit, the 59^th Field Company, which was serving at the Curragh in Ireland with the 5^th Division.  The 5^th Division was assigned to the original British Expeditionary Force (BEF) for service in France and Sapper Mullins went to France with the company on 18 August 1914.[5] 

            Prior to 21 August 1915, Sapper Mullins was again transferred back to one of this old units, the 15^th Field Company.  The 15^th Company had been changed in its role as a Fortress Company and had been assigned to the 8^th Division.  This posting was to prove very unfortunate for Mullins as he was to die in France as a result of it. 

            The 15^th Field Company was assigned to support the 8^th Divisions 23^rd Infantry Brigade.  Without access to Mullins service papers it is difficult to know what actions he may have taken part in prior to his death.  The 15^th Field Company saw action in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle from 10 to 13 March 1915.[6]  During and following this battle the company lost the following men killed in action:[7]

10456 Sapper Thomas Henry Jones, D.C.M., died of wounds on 15 March 1915.

17940 Sapper Leopold E. Davis, killed in action on 20 March 1915.

19721 Sapper George William Brown, died at home on 28 March 1915.

7009 Driver S.J. Lowe, died of wounds on 30 April 1915. 

Following the Battle of Neuve Chappelle, the 15^th Field Company took part in the Battle of Aubers on 9 May 1915.[8]  The company lost two men killed following Neuve Chappelle and before the death of Sapper Mullins.  These men were:[9] 

11929 Sapper H.G. Catlin, D.C.M., killed in action on 21 June 1915.

17101 2^nd Corporal William George Burrage, killed in action on 28 July 1915. 

On 18 August 1915 the 15^th Field Company experienced a considerable amount of enemy sniping on its work parties.  Sapper Edward James Mullins was shot by a sniper and seriously wounded from by bullet lodged in his spine while working on revetting in a trench system known as “VC Avenue”[10] in the Bac St. Maur area of Northern France.[11]  He was evacuated No. 13 General Hospital in Boulogne where he died on 21 August, aged 32.  He was buried in the Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Section VIII, Row B, Grave 73.[12] 

Medals, Awards and Decorations 

For his service during the Great War, Sapper Edward James Mullins was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. 

Figure 4.  Left to right: 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
(Image from the author’s collection) 

NOTE:  The medals in Figure 4 are not those of Sapper Mullins.  They are included here for illustrative purposes only. 

Figure 5.  The Medal Index Card of 2816 Sapper Edward James Mullins, R.E.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

            Note that the card in the image above shows his unit as the 59^th Field Company.  He was in this company shortly before going to France.  It is not known whether he transferred to the 15^th Field Company before going to France or while in France; however, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Soldiers Died in the Great War both indicate that he was with the 15^th Field Company when he died. 

4.  STANLEY HAROLD MULLINS 

Enlistment

            Stanley Harold Mullins enlisted in the Royal Engineers about February 1909.  This date is based on the work of Stuart Gase, as previously mentioned, from his regimental number 18650.  Stanley would have been 20 years and 8 months old when he enlisted. 

Training 

            Like his brother Edward, Stanley would have attended training at the School of Military Engineering at Chatham.  The 1911 Census of England shows him at Brompton Barracks in Chatham.  His trade is listed as Bricklayer.  Following the completion of his training it appears that Sapper Mullins was posted to the 1^st Field Squadron, R.E. with the 1^st Cavalry Division. 

Postings and Campaign Service 

            Sapper Mullins deployed to France with the 1^st Field Squadron on 15 August 1914 as part of the original British Expeditionary Force (BEF) like his brother Edward.  The 1^st Field Squadron became heavily engaged almost upon its arrival in France.  The following is a list of the actions in which it took part and the fatal casualties suffered by the squadron:[13] 

·         Retreat from Mons, 23 August – 5 September 1914.

Battle of the Mons, 23-24 August.

Battle of Le Cateau, 26 August.

·         Battle of the Marne, 7-10 September 1914.

·         Battle of the Aisne, 12-15 September 1914.

·         Battle of Messines and Armentieres, 10 October – 2 November 1914.

15593 2^nd Corporal Albert Hodge Giddy, died of wounds at home, 18 October 1914.

·         First Battle of Ypres, 19 October – 22 November 1914.

Lieutenant Robert Randle Egerton, killed in action on 16 November.

During the winter of 1914/1915 the squadron lost only one man, 11560 Sapper Charles Evans, who was killed in action on 12 February 1915.  However, the spring of 1915 was not to be so kind to the unit.  During the Second Battle of Ypres (22 April – 25 May) the squadron lost three men, including Sapper Mullins: 

12599 Corporal Ernest George Brewster, died of wounds on 18 May 1915.

13504 Corporal Alfred Reuben Lee, killed in action on 22 May 1915.

18650 Sapper Stanley Harold Mullins, killed in action on 24 May 1915. 

Mullins was killed near Bellewaarde where the 1^st Cavalry Division was subjected to intense artillery and gas bombardments throughout the day on 24 May.[14]  He probably was killed by an artillery shell and his body was never found.  He was 27 years old at the time of his death.  Since there were no remains to bury, Mullins is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 9. 

Medals, Awards and Decorations 

            Sapper Stanley Harold Mullins was entitled to the same medals as his brother, the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal as shown in the Medal Index Card below. 

Figure 6.  The Medal Index Card of 18650 Sapper Stanley Harold Mullins, R.E.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

5. BARTHOLOMEW HASSELL MULLINS 

            Bartholomew Mullins, the eldest brother of the family, enlisted in the Grenadier Guards.  His service papers were found on the internet and include those listed in the REFERENCE section at the end of this narrative.  He did not remain in the Grenadier Guards for the full period of his service, but transferred later to the Royal Army Medical Corps.  His service will be presented here, although not in the detail that was presented for his two brothers.

Figure 7.  27546 Private Bartholomew Hassell Mullins, Grenadier Guards.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

            Bartholomew Hassell Mullins enlisted at Maidstone in the Grenadier Guards, regimental number 27546,  on 7 December 1915.  He was 32 years old and married at the time and was living in Barming Heath, Kent.  Mullins and his wife Emily Jane had two sons. 

            After his attestation was approved, Mullins was posted to the Army Reserve.  He was mobilized for active service on 31 October 1916 and joined his battalion at Caterham the following day.  He went to France on 9 April 1917 and suffered a gunshot wound on 7 August 1917.  After recovering from his wound he was transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps, regimental number 134570, on 27 December 1917.  He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal and served in the 5^th Training Battalion of the R.A.M.C. until he was transferred to the Class “Z” Army Reserve on 13 February 1919. 

            For his service during the war, Lance Corporal Bartholomew Hassell Mullins received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.  The medals were issued to him on 10 March 1922. 

Figure 8.  The Medal Index Card of Bartholomew H. Mullins.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

6. STEPHEN ALGAR MULLINS 

Figure 9.  Private Stephen Algar Mullins, U.S. Army.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

            The photograph above was found on a Mullins family tree posted on Ancestry.com.  The uniform is that of a Private soldier in the U.S. Army at the time of World War 1.  No details were available regarding Mullins emigration to the United States or his military service during the war.  He died on 17 December 1969 in Hennepin County, Minnesota, so he obviously returned to the U.S. after the war and probably became a permanent residence/citizen. 

REFERENCES 

Books 

Soldiers Died in the Great War.  The Naval & Military Press Ltd., Heathfield, East Sussex, 1998. 

Census 

1.      1891 Census of England (RG 12/686).

2.      1901 Census of England (RG 13/763).

3.      1911 Census of England and Wales. 

Commonwealth War Graves Commission 

1.      Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial: Edward James Mullins.

2.      Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial: Stanley Harold Mullins.
 

Family Tree 

1.      Family Tree, Edward James Mullins (Ancestry.com), by Geoffrey Bennett.

2.      Family Tree, Harold Stanley Mullins (brother) (Ancestry.com), by Geoffrey Bennett.

3.      Family Tree, James William Mullins (father) (Ancestry.com), by Geoffrey Bennett.

4.      Family Tree, Bartholomew Hassell Mullins (brother) (Ancestry.com), by Geoffrey Bennett.

5.      Family Tree, Stephen Algar Mullins (brother) (Ancestry.com), by Geoffrey Bennett.  

Internet Web Sites 

1.      Lives of the First World War.
https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/searchlives/Royal%20Engineers/filter/type%3Dagent

2.      Boulogne Eastern Cemetery Roll of Honour.
https://www.ww1cemeteries.com/boulogne-eastern-roh-m-z.html

3.      BBC – Remembrance – Soldier Record (Edward James Mullins)
https://www.bbc.com/remembrance/wall/record/10597

4.      BBC – Remembrance – Soldier Record (Stanley Harold Mullins).
https://www.bbc.com/remembrance/wall/record/10608 

Military Documents 

1. Medal Index Card of 2816 Sapper Edward James Mullins, R.E.

2. Medal Index Card of 18650 Sapper Stanley Harold Mullins, R.E.

3. Medal Index Card of 27546 Private Bartholomew Hassell Mullins, Grenadier Guards, later 134570 Private Royal Army Medical Corps.

4. Royal Engineers Medal Roll, 1914 Star: S.H. Mullins.

5. War Diary, 15^th Field Company, 18-21 August 1915.

6. War Diary, 1^st Field Squadron, 24-27 May 1915.

7. Service Papers of Bartholomew Hassell Mullins.

a.       Short Service Attestation (Army Form B. 2512).

b.      Descriptive Report on Enlistment.

c.       Statement of Services.

d.      Medals Award Receipt (Army Form B. 5112).

Periodicals 

Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers.  The Royal Engineers Journal.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1925-1932. 

Research Projects 

Royal Engineers Regimental Numbers by S. Gase, West Drayton, U.K. 

ENDNOTES