George Harry Mullin VC MM

b. 15/08/1892 Portland, Oregon, USA. d. 05/04/1963 Regina, Sasketchewan, Canada

George Harry Mullin (1891-1963) was born on 15th August 1892 at Portland, Oregon, USA. His date of birth is also recorded as 20th or 15th August 1891. His father, Henry “Harry” Mullin, was a blacksmith before he enlisted in 10th Infantry Regiment, US Army on 20th May 1878 in Buffalo, New York. He served for five years until 1883. Harry married Effie May Kennedy, a dressmaker from Benton, Oregon in 1888. They moved to Moosomin, Saskatchewan, Canada in c.1893, where Harry became a farmer. They did return to the USA in 1910 where Harry became a shopkeeper. Harry and Effie had eight children in all, though three died as infants, and only three of the other five are known. These include a brother, Roy, who was killed in the Great War near Courcelette, France on 15th September 1916.

George H Mullin VC MM

George was educated at Moosomin Public School and Moosomin Collegiate Institute. He became a farmer at Kamloops, British Columbia and also served with 16th Light Horse for five months. He enlisted in 32nd Battalion, CEF at Winnipeg on 14th December 1914. He was included in a draft transferred to Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in February 1915 and sailed for England on the 23rd. He went to France on 31st July and was selected as a sniper in October.

At Sanctuary Wood, near Ypres, on 2nd-3rd June 1916, he was wounded. He was evacuated to Dartford War Hospital on 5th June. He was then transferred to the VAD Hospital, Sidcup, Kent on 17th June. He was eventually discharged on 19th July, though was not declared fit for duty until 30th August. He finally rejoined his unit on 4th October.

He was awarded the Military Medal on 16th December 1916 in the La Folie Sector on Vimy Ridg, when he assisted Sergeant Dow in the reconnaissance of an enemy post. He later helped Lieutenant McDougall’s party to the same spot, killed the sentry, and threw bombs down the trench to block the enemy supports. He was promoted to Corporal on 16th March 1917 and acting Sergeant on 9th April. He was fully promoted to Sergeant on 15th July.

On 30th October 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium, Sergeant Mullin single-handed captured a pill-box which had withstood heavy bombardment and was causing heavy casualties and holding up the attack. He rushed the snipers’ post in front, destroyed the garrison with bombs, shot two gunners and then compelled the remaining 10 men to surrender. All the time rapid fire was directed on him and his clothes were riddled with bullets, but he never faltered in his purpose and he not only helped to save the situation but indirectly saved many lives.

After a period of leave, he was given command of the snipers and scouts, before returning to England to attend officer training. The VC was presented to him by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 16th March 1918. He later became the Battalion Bombing Instructor and was posted to No 3 Regimental Depot Group on 14th June 1919 and sailed for Canada and was demobbed in July. George had recently married to Elizabeth Dorothy Gardner on 13th April 1918 at St Thomas’ Church, Stockport, Cheshire. They settled in Moosomin before moving to Regina in 1934. George returned to farming and was appointed Sergeant-At-Arms of the Saskatchewan Legislature in 1934. It was in that role he represented the Canadian Contingent at Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953.

He volunteered for service in the Second World War and was appointed to the Veterans Guard of Canada as a Lieutenant. He served until 1946 in command of an internment camp. George attended three VC Reunions – the 1929 House of Lords Dinner, the VC Centenary Celebrations at Hyde Park in 1956 and the 3rd VC & GC Association Reunion at the Café Royal in 1962.

George died at his home at Garnet Street, Regina on 5th April 1963. He was buried in a Canadian Legion plot of South Side Cemetery, Moosomin, Saskatchewan. In addition to his VC and MM, he was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 with Mentioned in Despatches oak leaf, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal 1939-45, War Medal 1939-45, George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953. His medals were held in trust by the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Museum, but were recalled in 1975 by family and sold to the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM, OTTAWA, CANADA.

BURIAL PLACE: SOUTH SIDE CEMETERY, MOOSOMIN, SASKETCHEWAN, CANADA.

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