Freedom of Dudley for Joe Bullock
A Black Country D-Day veteran who turns 101 in December has been granted the “Freedom of Dudley” in honour of his service to King and Country.
Joe Bullock, now formally a “Freeman of Dudley borough,” served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War and took part in the D-Day landings.
He received a commemorative scroll from the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Pete Lee, at a special ceremony at Himley Hall in front of family and friends.
‘I never expected this’
Joe, who lives in Stourbidge, said: “I never expected any of this. The family kept it very quiet but they clearly knew something about it. I’m really touched. Thank you so much for everything.”
Councillor Pete Lee, Mayor of Dudley, said: “It was a privilege to grant Mr Bullock the freedom of our borough. It was something I had pushed for since having the honour of meeting him at Armed Forces Day earlier in the year.
“We have a long and special relationship with the armed forces and we go above and beyond to celebrate their work.
‘Commitment to community and country’
“Mr Bullock is one of our oldest armed forces veterans, serving in one of the biggest conflicts in history. His record and commitment to this community and country speak for themselves, and I am pleased we have been able to formally recognise that.”
Joe served in the Royal Navy from 1942 to 1946, crossing the Channel in the Normandy landings during World War II and later being posted to Singapore.
He was awarded the Legion d’Honneur in 2015 by the French government and is president of the Stourbridge branch of the Royal Naval Association.
Also attending the ceremony at Himley Hall on Thursday night was the leader of Dudley Council, Councillor Patrick Harley, Dudley’s Armed Forces Champion, Councillor Damian Corfield, the Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Nick Venning, High Sherrif of the West Midlands, Mark Smith and the Mayor’s cadet Flt Lt George Sturman-Sprigg.
