Category Archives: Memorials

Harry George Brewer

Army, Commemorated name/s, Other Regiments, Reading University College

Harry George Brewer
Lance Sergeant C/6276
18th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps

 Division 24

CIMG2169CIMG2168

 

Harry George Brewer was the son of Frank and Emma Brewer, of 653, Oxford Road, Reading. A grave to the family of Barton and Andrews also bears the initials “E.B. and F.B. and Cpl. H.G.B. son killed in action September 16th 1916, aged 27”  is commemorated on a small scroll.  Burial records revealed the name Brewer.  The 1911 census records indicate the Harry Brewer was a journeyman carpenter. His father was a plumber and other sons also had trades.

 CWGC information revealed that Harry George Brewer was killed on the 15th September 1916. He is listed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.  Pier and Face 13A and 13B.

 The 15th September was the beginning of the 3rd phase of the Somme offensive.   On this day an advance along six miles of front to a depth of 2000 -3000 yards took place.   The attack was special because it was the first time that the heavy armoured cars or tanks were used.  Although several tanks ditched along the way those that fought near Flers were very successful and assisted in the taking of the village.  During the next four days, all along the front, the fighting was bloody and many men lost their lives. Exactly where the  18th Battalion KRRC were positioned is not yet known. It is not clear upon which day Harry Brewer died but he had no known grave.  The allied attack was hindered on the 19th September by bad weather but,  resumed the day after and continued well into November.  During this time many thousands lost their lives.

Charles Edwin Bostwick

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Other Regiments, Trinitiy Congregational Church War Memorial

Charles Edwin Bostwick
Lance Corporal 46143
2nd Battalion Essex Regiment.

 Bostwick CE name

Charles Edwin Bostwick was the eldest son of Mr. Charles Henry and Mrs. Lucy Bostwick of 64 Amity Rd. Reading.  The 1911 census has filled in the details of his life. Charles Bostwick’s occupation is given as a sewing machine canvasser, his two children were in school. Information relating to his death has come from the CWGC record. His name is to be found on Panel 7 of the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. 

 The Vis-en-Artois Memorial commemorates 9,832 names of those who fell in the 1918 advance in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos. In the cemetery lie over 1,700 British and 582 Canadians who died in the capture of the sector on August 27th 1918.  It was 3km along the road that the Canadian Corps broke and turned the German position on September 2nd 1918, the day Charles Bostwick lost his life. He was aged 19.

Charles Edwin Bostwick is also commemorated on the Trinity Congregational Church war memorial which is to be rededicated in the Reading Minster church of St. Mary the Virgin in time for the centenary of the Great War.

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.