John James Fulton
Sergeant Major, Royal Army Medical Corps
John Futon’s family addresses were 12 Ivon Street, 42 Shore Road and 108 Mountcollyer Street, all of which are in the area surrounding Castleton Church. His parents were Joseph Fulton, a plater’s helper and Ann. John married Ellen White in 1905 and the couple had at least seven children over the next ten years; Beatrice Maud, Albert Thomas, John James, William White, James, Elllen Culbert and Herbert.
He was a labourer before enlisting with the Royal Army Medical Corps when he was just 18 years old in 1900. He served for 21 years, and saw action in the South African campaign from 1900 – 1903, as well as in France and the Mediterranean during the Great War.
He finished his service as an Acting Sergeant Major and was mentioned in dispatches on Wednesday 15 August 1917. As he appeared in the Belfast Telegraph we were able to match his photograph to his slide on the Castleton Lanterns. H
is army record notes that he received the Meritorious Service Medal on 29 August 1917.
Newspaper clipping courtesy of Nigel Henderson.
Memories of Grandpa John
After Mountcollyer Street the family moved to 8 Rathdrum Street in Belfast where I lived with my grandma and grandad, my uncle Albert, my sister Hazel and my mother Winifred.
Grandpa had qualified as a pharmacist during his time in the army but unfortunately at that time army qualifications were not accepted in civilian life so he had to work as a clerk.
My hazy memories of him are of an extremely gentle man who loved books. Much to my grandma's frustration, he spent every spare penny going to Smithfield Market to buy second hand books.
I particularly remember an amazing first edition copy of the Rubaiyat of Omar Kyahamm that he picked up for 2 and 6 that fascinated me as a child, as it had my mother before me.
I think all of his children have passed on, but the next generation is flourishing.
- Granddaughter Dot Campbell