Alfred Verdun Bullen – Merchant Navy, S.S. Castlemoor

Deck Hand Alfred Verdun Bullen – Merchant Navy, S.S. Castlemoor

Early Life and Family Background

Alfred Verdun Bullen was born in 1917 in Swansea, the son of John Robert Bullen and Alice Mary Thomas. In 1937, he married Beatrice Elizabeth McMurray in Swansea, beginning married life just a few years before the outbreak of the Second World War.

No surviving census entries or 1939 Register records have been located for Alfred, suggesting that he may already have been at sea or otherwise outside the scope of civilian documentation by that time.

Service in the Merchant Navy

Alfred served with the Merchant Navy, holding the role of Deck Hand, a demanding and essential position involving general seamanship, cargo handling, and assisting with the safe operation of the vessel. His home address at the time of his death was recorded as 17 Vincent Street, Swansea.

Sinking of S.S. Castlemoor – 25 February 1940

S.S. Castlemoor
credit - wrecksite

The S.S. Castlemoor was a 5,989‑ton British steam merchant ship, owned by the Moor Line Ltd. and operated by Walter Runciman & Co. Ltd. On 25^th February 1940, during the early and dangerous months of the Battle of the Atlantic, the vessel was sailing in the North Atlantic when she was attacked by the German submarine U‑48, a torpedo fired by the submarine struck the Castlemoor with devastating force. The ship sank rapidly, giving the crew little chance to escape. Thirty‑eight men were lost, including Deck Hand Alfred Verdun Bullen of Swansea. Only a small number of survivors were rescued.

The sinking took place at a time when German U‑boats were inflicting heavy losses on unescorted merchant vessels, aiming to sever Britain’s vital supply lines. The loss of the Castlemoor and so many of her crew stands as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by Merchant Navy personnel throughout the war.

Death and Commemoration

Merchant Seamen Deaths

Alfred Verdun Bullen
Tower Hill Memorial
credit - Benjidog Histroical Research Resources.
The Merchant Navy Memorial

According to the Merchant Seamen Deaths register, Deck Hand Alfred Verdun Bullen lost his life on 25^th February 1940 when the Castlemoor was sunk. As he has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London, which honours Merchant Navy personnel who died at sea during both world wars.