Bullot, Bertrand (Patrick)

Bertrand Reidhaar (Patrick, Pat) Bullot was born 3 February 1915, the eldest son of Arthur and Bertha Bullot of New Plymouth. 

He joined the 1st Battalion of the Wellington Regiment in 1931, later transferring to the 1st Battalion of the Taranaki Regiment. In 1938 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and given command of the Waitara Rifle Platoon. After training at the Royal Military College of Australia he was posted to the Southern Military District as an Instructor. In May 1941 he was appointed to the 2NZEF and then embarked for Egypt with the 6th Artillery Reinforcements. He was posted to the headquarters for the 6th NZ Infantry Brigade.

He rose through the ranks, eventually being promoted to Major in October 1943. He was wounded in action in November 1943, at Sangro River, Italy. He recovered and was promoted eventually to Temporary Lieutenant Colonel in June 1945 and returned to New Zealand later that year.

He remained a permanent member of the New Zealand Army and went on to be Commandant of Waiouru Military Camp and by 1967 he was District Commander of the Northern Military District. That same year he was made Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE). He retired from the military in 1970.

Bullot married Bertha Noeline Clarke in 1946 in Christchurch and they had four children. Bullot had two brothers who also served during the World War Two, Owen and Frank, who was killed in action in 1941. He died 6 March 1995 in Auckland, aged 80.

Documents

Taranaki Daily News 26 Dec 1945 NZ Troops Waiting in Italy Cared for