Born at Southsea, Hampshire in November 1896 to pawnbroker Gilbert Fulljames and Edith Marianne (née Totterdell), daughter of a Portsmouth corset manufacturer[1] he was educated at Sutton Valence School, before attending Downing College, Cambridge.
[2][3] He was shot down three times during the course of the war, including once by the infamous German flying ace Baron von Richthofen.
[5] He was promoted from flight lieutenant to squadron leader in December 1928,[6] while serving at The School of Technical Training at RAF Halton.
[8] He served during World War II, during which he achieved the rank of Wing Commander in March 1940.
[10] Shortly after retiring from the RAF, he stood as the Liberal Party candidate for Southampton in the 1945 General Election.