Notes for Arthur James Tullis: Arthur James Tullis is my 1st cousin twice removed.
Seems to have vanished. Last known info (1901 census) he was living with Grandmother, now Mary Milne at Millgate, Cupar, Fife.
Found in British Columbia, Canada,
Died in Mt. St. Mary Hospital, Victoria, on 7th April 1975. occupation ships purser R.C.N. and RN. Informant not clear but her address was 1884 Skylark Place, Victoria, BC. and she was his niece. Cremated 10th April 1975. Big breakthrough in Feb 2005. Found out more about the Oiesen family. Seems that Nellie Joan's father was a big cheese in China, in the customs service and he was also the Danish ambassador to Korea. Discovered a Mei Mei Ellerman who was adopted by Elsa Oisen Burman. Elsa was Nellie's sister. Mei mei is writing a book about the family of which I've ordered a copy. Mei Mei seems to know quite a lot about the family and has a couple of albums of photographs. More later.
Arthur would have been my father's 1st cousin once removed.
Arthur met Nellie Joan on the ship bringing her and her brother, E E Oiesen to America in 1927. Arthur was the ships purser, ships name ? They married the following year.
A bit more. 8/3/05. Letter from a Jeo Oiesen, living in Toas, New Mexico and one from her uncle Dixon Porter. First one from DP.
"Terry. Ian was indeed my uncle, married to my aunt Nellie. I lived with him in Deerfield, Mass. from 1932 to 1934. I was 2-6 years old. He was very good to me and I thought him to be a great Man. I remember that after he and aunt Nellie had a quarrel he would retire to his room, put on his kilt and parade about the backyard playing Scotland the Brave. During WW1 he served in the Royal Navy and rose to the rank of Lt Commander. In WW2 he served in the Royal Canadian navy and rose to the rank of Commander. After the war he was assigned to shore duty in Vancouver BC. I fear that's about all I can tell you about him. I really didn't know him too well, but I did love him dearly. Good luck on your quest."
and from Jeo.
"Nellie Oiesen Tullis was my great aunt.. we called her the Dragon and she made Arthur's life somewhat miserable (not to mention ours when we were around her) My uncle Dixon can tell you a lot more being a lot older than me and being raised by the Aunts as we called them. His E-mail is gray fox@Welborne He lives in Mexico and next week we are going to china. However I never met her husband . I don't know if he died before I was out and about (Nellie died while I was finishing my masters degree)"
16 April 2005. From.. A Naval Officers War by Anthony Griffin.
On one of my ship's layovers in St Johns in early 1942, I was directed to act in a courts martial as Prisoners Friend, equivalent to Defending Lawyer, for a fellow corvette captain Lt James A Tullis, captain of HMCS Dunvegan. Jim Tullis, who everyone liked and who was considered a competent officer, drove his ship ashore entering the Harbour of Reykjavik, Iceland. This resulted in a formal courts martial in the following austere language.
For that he, Lieutenant James Arthur Tullis, Royal Canadian Naval reserve (Temporary) then being the Commanding Officer, HMCS Dunvegan, and being a person subject to the Naval Discipline Act, on the fourth day of December 1941, did negligently or by default strand the said ship. E R Mainguy Captain R C N.
The charge against Tullis was a tough one and his prosecutor, as is usually the case in courts martial, was his boss, Captain D.
Reykjavic is not the easiest habour to enter; there are nasty hazards off the buoyed entrance. At night you must take care to stay in the "white sector" of the chart showing Engey Island light. In Captain D's circumstantial letter of prosecution, poor Tullis had done everything wrong; he had not studied the habour chart, no course had been laid off, the navigating officer had not acquainted himself with the situation and was up forward for anchor duties rather than standing beside his captain. The whole experience was conducted entirely by eye.
Captain D sent for me and pointed out the hopelessness of Tullis' case. While I totally agreed, I was taken aback by D's recommendation that I throw in the towel immediately and plead Tullis guilty. When I respectfully questioned the propriety of this, D became a bit irritated and said that if not guilty plea was entered, he as prosecutor would be oblige to press his case with utmost vigour; Tullis, he said was a RCNR officer who should have known far better; the court would therefore be more severe. On the other hand, if a plea of guilty were made, an officer, senior to the accused, who knew him, presented a "statement of mitigation of punishment" this would soften the courts attitude.
Tullis and I decided to take this advice; when the court martial opened, he pleaded guilty. Then when the court asked the accused wished to make any statement, I stood up and said, "the accused, with respect, would like to ask Captain D if he himself would make a statement in mitigation of punishment. There was some astonishment over this, but D came forward nobly and gave Tullis a good general recommdation. He was "dismissed his Ship and severely reprimanded" but was soon appointed as captain of another. Some times the punishment includes a loss of seniority, but that did not apply in this case.
I have as yet found no more references to our Arthur, but as he styled himself James Arthur instead of Arthur James something else may still surface.
More About Arthur James Tullis: Burial: 10 April 1975, Royal Oak Crenatorium, Saanich V.I..
More About Arthur James Tullis and Nellie Joan Oiesen: Marriage: 30 March 1928, Vancouver, British Columbia..
Marriage Notes for Arthur James Tullis and Nellie Joan Oiesen:
Don't know very much about her but appears to be half Danish, half Chinese. Born either in Hong Kong or Shanghai. Her father was a Frederick Oeisen and her mothers name on her marriage certificate is indecipherable {think that's wrong}
Arthur James Tullis (b. 21 February 1890, d. 7 April 1975)
Notes for Arthur James Tullis: