Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Hull, a stone quarry worker, born 1867 in Whitwick, Leicestershire, and his wife Sarah Esther Hull (nee Jones, married 1893), born 1866 in Caerlon, Monmouthshire, Wales. Harry Valentine Alexander, was born in 1896 in Charley, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, a brother Bazil Llewellyn, born 1894 in Charley, in March 1901 the family home was at 1, Brick Hill Cottage, Charley. In April 1911 Valentine was employed as a farm wagoner, and was residing as a boarder at Bardon, Leicestershire.
The War Diary records: 11 Apr-15 - Trenches opposite Hill 60. Battalion took over trenches 38 to 45 opposite Hill 60.
On Friday April 30th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS” – LEICESTERSHIRE SOLDIER KILLED. – Private V. Hull, of the 3rd Bedford’s whose parents live at Charley, near Loughborough, was killed in France on April 11th. He was 19 years of age, and had been in France only a week.
On Saturday May 1st 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – News has just been received that Val Hull was killed in action on Sunday, April 11th, “somewhere in France.” He enlisted in the 3rd Bedford’s in September, and only went to the front last month. He was 19 years of age, and is a brother of P.C. Hull of Loughborough. The deceased was a valued chorister and ringer at the Parish Church, and on Sunday the flag was flown at half mast, muffled peals were rung on the bells, and at the conclusion of the evening service the organist played the Dead March in “Saul.” Private V. Hull of the 3rd Bedford’s, whose parents live at Charley near Loughborough, was killed in France on April 11th. He was 19 years of age, and had been in France only a week.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
'Valentine's mother Sarah Esther was born 1864. His brother Basil was the eldest of eight children one of whom died at three months. Basil was in the Royal Artillery for most of the war. Valentine was killed in Belgium not France and was buried at Zillebecke, near Ypres. Valentine was working with a nursery growing orchids in St Albans in 1914 and that is where he joined the Bedfordshire Regiment.
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Submitted by IH Geary, nephew to Valentine, in 2015

The following information was kindly submitted to the project by F Tilley in 2016:
"13241-Private Harry Valentine Alexander HULL Bedfordshire Regiment 1st & 3rd Battalion Harry Valentine Hull was born in 1896 in Charley, Copt Oak, Markfield, Leicestershire.
He was the son of Harry Hull a quarryman Ledger at the granite quarry, born 1867 in Whitwick, Leicestershire, and Sarah Esther Jones born 1866 in Caerleon, Monmouthshire; of Birch Hill, Copt Oak, Markfield, Leicestershire.
Harry had 6 brothers and one sister: Basil Llewellyn (1894-1968 Melton Mowbray), William Jones (1900-1900), Meredith (1901), Llewellyn Vivian (1903), Sarah Jane (1905 in Loughborough), Wallace (1907), and Lloyd (1908) Harry’s brother Basil who was Police Constable who joined the Army on the 7th June 1915, he was 21 years and 6 months, No L/28848 he was a Gunner with the Royal Regiment of Artillery Harry was single he was a farm labour where he was lodging. He was a boarder on the farm of John and Annie Neale, Battleplat, Bardon Hill, Leicestershire.

Military Service

Harry Hull enlisted with the Army in St Albans, Leicestershire.

The Coalville Times reported: "News has just been received that Val Hull was killed in action on Sunday, April 11th, 'somewhere in France.' He enlisted in the 3rd Bedfords in September, and only went to the front last month. He was 19 years of age. The deceased was a valued chorister and ringer at the Parish Church, and on Sunday the flag was flown at half-mast, muffled peals were rung on the bells, and at the conclusion of evening service the organist played the Dead March in Saul.“
Harry was killed in action during the Great War on 11th April 1915 at the age of 19 years old. Harry Valentine left his effects to his father Harry Hull.

He is commemorated at the Tuileries British Cemetery, at 3km east of the town of Ieper, on the Maaldestedestraat, West Vlaanderen, Zillebeke, Belgium. Reference Spe.Mem.D.3

Harry Valentine Alexander Hull is also remembered at Bardon Chapel Memorial, Bardon, Leicestershire."

Coalville Times article – Friday April 30th, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT COPT OAK CHURCH

WINDOW DECORATED BY THE BISHOP OF PETERBOROUGH

A large congregation was present at Copt Oak Church on Sunday morning to witness the dedication by the Bishop of Peterborough of a beautiful stained-glass window which has been placed in the church in memory of local men who gave their lives in the great war.

The window has three lights, the centre light being occupied by a warrior kneeling at the foot of Christ, with the inscription, “Faithful unto death, 1914 – 1918.” The following are the fallen who are commemorated:

E. Bowley, J. W. Brooks, J. H. Gibbins, H. Heggs, H. A. V. Hull, H. Hall, R. Irons, T. J. Kelham, A. H. Mason, G. H. Partner, P. B. Pearce, S. W. Richardson, H. Read, P. Tyers, S. A. Whyles and W. Wibberley.

Immediately preceding the service, a muffled peal was rung on the bells. The Rev. H. C. Gannell (vicar) took the first part of the service, which was fully choral, and the Rev. J. Martin, of Charley Hall, read the lessons. The special music rendered by the choir included the Te Deum (Hopkins) and the anthem, “Rejoice in the Lord” (Elvey). Mrs Gannell officiated at the organ, and at the close played the Dead March in “Saul.”

The Bishop, in his address from St. John, xx, 29, emphasised the power of the Resurrection, dealing with the introduction of Christianity into Britain, the progress made in Uganda, India and China. Instead of thinking of God as a kind of arch-magistrate seated on a distant star, we must think of one who is full of sympathy even for those whom many consider as beyond the pale. His Lordship continued, “We remember those gallant men who gave their lives in the war. They have cleared the way for a new Britain, a better Europe and a new world. Our task is to carry on, not to beat the Germans, but to form a truer fellowship, a lasting peace and goodwill. We must never falter until the great League of Nations is rooted and grounded in brotherly love, and a new comradeship is established, not every one grabbing for self, but each man loving his neighbour as himself.”

The congregation included many of the relatives of the deceased men. The collections at the services, including the Choral Communion Service at 8 am, at which the Bishop of Peterborough was the celebrant, were for the Window Fund. The service at 6.30 pm was taken by the Rev. T. W. Walters, Whitwick, Rural Dean.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 22/5/2019