Robert Ramsay Tullis
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 25/5/1915
Age: 31
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (7th Bn)
Cemetery: Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord
Additional information: Son of Mrs James T Tullis; husband of Edith R MacInnes Shaw Begg (formerly Tullis) or Northcote, Witley, Surrey.
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of the late J T Tullis, Deacon Convener, Glasgow.
Soldier’s Effects information: exec. James Kennedy Tullis Esq.
1901 census information:
Address: The Anchorage, Rutherglen.
Father: James T (58) leather merchant, born about 1843 in Arbroath.
Mother: Elizabeth K (43) born about 1859 in Adelaide, Australia.
Sister: Annie T Wilson (25) born about 1876 in Glasgow.
Brother: Samuel S (20) leather worker, born about 1881 in Glasgow.
Brother: James K (19) leather worker, born about 1882 in Rutherglen.
Self: Robert R (17) born about 1884 in Rutherglen.
Sister: Elsie K (16) born about 1885 in Rutherglen.
Sister: Dorothy (13) born about 1888 in Rutherglen.
Sister: Muriel M (10) born about 1891 in Rutherglen.
1911 census information:
The family are living in Alloa. The family comprises Elizabeth 53, Robert R 27, Elizabeth 25, Dorothy 23 and Muriel 20.
Newspaper transcript – Clackmannan Hero. Death of Brave Captain Tullis. Scion of Distinguished Glasgow Family.
Deep regret was expressed throughout Clackmannanshire on Saturday when it became known that Captain R. Ramsay Tullis, The Baingle, Tullibody, had succumbed to wounds received while serving in France with his battalion, the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Territorials).
Captain Tullis appeared on the list of wounded officers of the battalion published on Friday, and it is understood that his condition was regarded as hopeless from the first. The battalion had been engaged for over a month in desperate fighting, and sustained very heavy losses.
Captain Tullis was taken to one of the base hospitals in France, where he succumbed to his injuries. The dead officer, who was about thirty years of age, belonged to a well-known and highly-esteemed Glasgow family. He was a son of the late Deacon-Convener Tullis, who was for many years, one of the most prominent business men in the city. He was married to Miss McInnes-Shaw, daughter of Sir Archibald McInnes-Shaw, ex-Lord Provost of Glasgow,, and a pathetic circumstance is that the last time he was home on a brief furlough was a little over a month ago, when he attended the christening of his infant child.
The late Captain Tullis was a partner in the Tullibody Tannery Company, whose works at Tullibody constitute one of the principal industries of Clackmannanshire. His elder brother, Major J, Kennedy Tullis, who resides in Glasgow, is also an officer in the 7th Argylls, and is at present invalided home suffering from wounds received about three weeks ago. Both brothers had been actively connected with the battalion for years, and took a very prominent part in its affairs.
Out of respect for the deceased officer the flags at the Tullibody Tannery and the Tullibody Public School floated at half-mast on Saturday.
Beloved by All.
The late Captain Tullis was one of the most popular officers in the 7th Argylls, and was greatly esteemed by all ranks. He commanded the Alloa company, and since going on active service he had been unremitting in his efforts to promote the comfort and well-being of those under his charge. Frequently he had the painful duty of sending home news of casualties to the relatives of the men concerned, and his letters on such occasions were invariably models of sympathetic tact.
One of the last communications to come to hand from him was a letter received by Mr. R. N. McEwan, president of the Alloa Amateur Boating and Swimming Club, in which Captain Tullis, on behalf of his men, returned tanks for comforts sent out by the club.
When admitted to hospital Captain Tullis was found to have been “very severely wounded in the head and quite unconscious.”
It was the bursting of a shell on the top of a trench behind him which was responsible for the wound. He was attended to at once. With great bravery the stretcher bearers carried the wounded officer to the dressing station behind the line, and subsequently Captain Tullis was conveyed to hospital, where he died on Tuesday.
The funeral took place on Thursday, and was of a very impressive character.
Great sympathy will be felt for the relatives of this gallant soldier and particularly for the young widow so tragically bereaved.
Also commemorated on the Tullibody and Cambus District Memorial.