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History of Bullers Arms & Sir Redvers Buller VC Bullers Arms started its life not as a hostelry but as a a typical Cornish, local stone, built house. The doors were first opened as a traditional country inn circa 1856 under its original name, 'King's Arms' and remained as such for around 50 years. Soon after the Boer war the inn was renamed after a national but locally born hero Sir Redvers Buller VC.
Sir
Redvers Buller was born just over the
border in Downes House,
Crediton, Devon in December 1839,
the son of MP
James Wentworth Buller. After completing his schooling at Eton he was
commissioned into the 60th Rifles (Kings Royal Rifle Corps) in May 1858 from
where he began his long and infamous military career and rise to fame, being
regarded as a hero of the Boer War. He was a major benefactor in Crediton and Exeter during the early years of the last century. He spent a large part of his military career in Africa in the Zulu War, during which he received the Victoria Cross for gallantry, and the Boer War. Many references to his name and deeds can be found in Exeter, including Buller Road and Ladysmith schools - it is the Relief of the South African town Ladysmith, in which the General played a significant role. At the junction of New North Road and Hele Road in Exeter can be seen the statue of the General sat astride his horse, as he must often have been seen leading his troops on the battlefields of South Africa. The statue was unveiled in 1905 and thousands of people attended, including General Buller himself. Seen as the saviour of the Boer War, he was acclaimed as having saved Natal from the Boers. The War was at its bloody peak when the Boers won the battle of Spion Cop. The force led by General Sir Redvers Buller lost out in its second attempt to relieve the British Garrison besieged in Ladysmith, and early in February, a third attempt led by General Buller also failed to break through the Boer lines. Victory came at the fourth attempt, but with a high price. The campaign had lasted 118 days at a cost of some five thousand lives. Despite later criticism of his leadership, largely due to the loss of life, General Buller has remained a local hero. Not only this, the high regard with which he was held by his men, also never faded. He died at his home in Crediton in 1908, and was buried in Crediton. The parish church displays a most magnificent memorial to him. The General's famous sword is permanently displayed at the Exeter Guildhall.
Valourous actions On March 28 1879, in the South African Zulu War, the then Lieutenant Colonel Buller was being hotly pursued by ferocious Zulus during the retreat from lnhlobana. With little thought for his own safety, he rescued a young Captain of the Cape Frontier Light Horse and carried him on his own horse until he overtook the rearguard to safety. And, on the same day, under the same circumstances, he executed another emergency evacuation when he carried a lieutenant, whose horse had been killed under him, to a place of safety. Undaunted in the same action, his valourous deeds went on - he saved a trooper whose horse was exhausted, and who would otherwise have been killed by the Zulus who were within yards of him. For his bravery under enemy attack he was awarded the Victoria Cross. One of only 1,345 courageous servicemen ever to receive the award.
In Exeter, the statue of Sir Redvers Buller VC dominates one end of Queen Street
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Postal address Bullers Arms Hotel, Marhamchurch, Bude, Cornwall EX23 0HB
Telephone
01288 361 277
International
+44 1288 361 277
Send mail to
webmaster@bullersarms.co.uk
with questions or comments about this web site.
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