Category Archives: Canadian

Ronald Charles Hirst Gazzana

Army, Canadian, Registered War Grave, Ypres

Ronald Charles Hirst Gazzana
Private 1124 “C” Company
8th Battalion Canadian infantry. (Manitoba Regiment)

 Division 35

 Gazzana grave Gazzana tree

Ronald Charles Hirst Gazzana has a  CWGC war pattern headstone upon which is carved the emblem of Canada the maple leaf.  Behind the headstone is a graceful Maple tree, a simple but fitting memorial probably planted shortly after his funeral.  The grave number is 16111. His parents names are carved into the stone, he was the son of Charles Joseph and Ada Briffet Gazzana.  Their home was “Ronaldhirst  Farm”. Fairford, Manitoba.

 Private Gazzana died as a result of gas poisoning received on 24th April 1915.  This was during the week that the Germans first used poisoned gas.  The Canadians were at a place called St. Julien in Belgium.

 A report of his military funeral was published in the Reading Standard, 29th May 1915.

Gazzana funeral

“A military funeral is always impressive, but that at St. Giles Church, Reading on Wednesday afternoon particularly so.  Pte. Gazzana, aged 20 of the Canadian Contingent, had come to the aid of the motherland in the time of her stress and trial and had died a hero’s death fighting for the cause of freedom. 

“He was a victim of the foul weapon of gas, with which he was struck down near Ypres at the end of April.  He was conveyed to Reading War Hospital and thence to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.  At first he appeared to be making rapid strides towards recovery, but he had a relapse and on Monday passed to his rest.

 Sixteen wounded Canadians from the Reading War Hospital, and all were sufficiently well to attend,  were present to pay their last tribute of  respect to Pte. Gazzana.  Two of them were in his contingent.  They were conveyed to the Church in Red Cross cars.  Men of the 35th Division Signal Company, Royal Engineers, from Wantage Hall, under Lieut. E. Churchill, provided the escort, bearers and a firing party, and the drum and fife band of the “King Alfred” Training Brigade played the Royal Salute on entering the cemetery gates.

The service was conducted by the vicar, the Rev. F.J.C. Gillmor, and the Rev. H.A. Smith-Masters, and as the coffin, enveloped in a Union Jack and covered with beautiful flowers, was borne away on a cable carriage large crowds gathered in the streets and showed signs of sympathy.  After three volleys had been fired at the graveside, the “Last Post” was sounded and Pte. Gazzana was “left alone in his glory”.

 Among those present were the Mayor Mr Leonard Sutton, Major (Dr) G. Stewart Abram, Sir Percy Sanderson, KCMG (President of Caversham and Reading Veterans Association Mr Cyril Tubbs (transport officer), Mr. J.R. Cook, Lieut. Beaumont etc.

 Pte. Gazzana’s home was at Great Missenden, Bucks, his father holds a commission in the Royal Engineers.”  

Charles B Drew

Army, Canadian, Registered War Grave

Charles B. Drew
Lance Corporal 11471
4th Battalion Canadian Infantry
Central Ontario Regiment

 Division 38

CDrew photo CIMG2216

Charles Drew, was the son  of Thomas and Emily Drew, of 15, St. John’s Street, Reading. He died of wounds on November 9th 1918 aged 42. His is a registered war grave with a private headstone and kerbs, number 9901.  He shares his grave with his parents.  His name also appears on a special memorial in the War Plot, his grave having for sometime been lost. 

alternative mem 2

A letter from Lance Corporal Charles Drew was published in a local paper July 17th 1915 after he had been wounded.

 “He has been serving since the out break of war and has been twice wounded, the second time on the 26th June, when his leg was smashed by a shell and had to be amputated.  Writing form Meath hospital, Dublin he  says –

“I have not got pluck enough to look at my stump when they are dressing it.  The whole shell must have hit me, and caught it in the back of my leg above the knee cap and smashed it and set fire to my trousers.

We were drawing rations at he time, and I was in charge of them.  We were taking cover in the darkness of some ruined houses about 200 yards from the communication trench.  As soon as we got into the open shrapnel came over our heads.  I was helping a fellow carry some biscuits and was ducking down when the shell caught me.  A couple of fellows got me behind a wall and took me to a dressing station, where my leg was straightened out.

“Then I had a painful ride in a horse ambulance over a road full of holes to another dressing station, where I was laid in a marquee for the rest of the night.  Afterwards I was taken to a hospital at Merville, and then to Rouen.  Here the leg was taken off and salt water was injected to enrich the blood.”

 Charles Drew was remembered by his parents and brothers and sisters,  Walter, Bessie, Ethel, Mary, Horos and Willie in the ‘In Memoriam’ of the Standard November 8th 1919.

During research it was discovered that Charles Drew’s name had been omitted from the Canadian Book of Remembrance. An appeal was made and his name was added, a permanent record of his war service.

Norman Bradby Bloomfield

Canadian, Commemorated name/s, Reading University College, Ypres

Norman Bradby Bloomfield
Private 440296
5th Battalion Saskatchewan Regt.
Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Division 29

Bloomfield NB photo CIMG2103

 Norman Bradby Bloomfield  was the youngest son of Charles Joseph Fulcher Bloomfield and Lucy Mary Bloomfield of “The Brambles,” Tilehurst.  He was killed in action on June 6th 1916, and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Panels 18-26-28.  

The Standard of 24th June 1916 reports that Norman Bradby Bloomfield “had been in Canada for some years and enlisted after the outbreak of war, coming to Europe with the Canadians a year ago. (1915)  He had been in the France* a few months and was in action in which the overseas contingent lost heavily, a shell causing instant death.”  

The Battle for Mount Sorrel took place in June 1916 beginning on the 2nd June 1916, with two German attacks.  The second attack penetrated British lines for 300 yards along a 3000 yard front, towards Zillebeke.  The Canadians were badly damaged in the area around Mount Sorrel and Hill 62.   The advance was checked at Maple Copse.  There was a failed Canadian counter attack which was followed up by a massive artillery bombardment of German positions.  Then on the afternoon of the 6th June the German’s exploded four mines at Hooge and gained some ground.  Fierce fighting continued and it was not until the 13th June that the Canadians retook the positions lost on the 2nd June.  The Canadians suffered just under 8,500 casualties; of those 1,000 men were killed and another 1,900 were missing.  Norman Bradby Bloomfield’s unit was engaged in this action although the exact details have not been researched.  There is a Canadian Memorial at Hill 62, Sanctuary Wood, Zillebeke, Belgium.

  * For France read Belgium.