Arthur Tulloch Cull (1887 – 1917) – British Rugby Player, Aviator and Poet

Featured in the WW1 commemorative exhibition and book “Aviator Poets and Writers of the First World War”, Arthur was born in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 22nd August 1887.  His parents were John Barnabas Cull, a civil servant, and his wife Edith Rose, nee Tulloch, daughter of Rev John Tulloch D.D, LL.D, Principal of St Mary's College, University of St. Andrew.  Arthur had a brother, John, who went on to be a career officer in the Royal Navy and later transferred to the Royan Naval Air Service (RNAS).

Educated at The Knoll School in Bedfordshire before going to to Uppingham School in Rutland, Arthur went to work in a bank after leaving school.

In 1915, he married Constance E. Kerswell in Kensington, London.

Arthur joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps (OTC) and in WW1 joined the Seaforth Highlanders before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps in January 1918.

Posted to the Western Front, Arthur was shot down on 11th May 1917, while on patrol to the east of Arras. He is remembered on the ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIA, Arras, France.

In 1913, Arthur published a collection of poems dedicated to the ballerina Anna Pavlova – “Poems to Pavlova” (Herbert Jenkins Ltd., London, 1913).  As there is no-one else with this name, it seems likely the poems were written by the aviator.  It is also highly unlikely that he would stop writing poetry and it may well be that there are other poems waiting to be discovered.

“Aviator Poets and Writers of the First World War” is available from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aviator-Poets-Writers-WW1-Collection/dp/190964322X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540988322&sr=8-1&keywords=lucy+london+aviator

https://airwar19141918.wordpress.com/tag/48-squadron-rfc/

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/133808-arthur-tulloch-cull-1seaforths-and-rfc/