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. 

William Ernest Bolton

Army, Other Regiments, Registered War Grave

William E. Bolton
Private 8341
1st Batt. The Cameronians Scottish Rifles

 War Plot
Division 71 and 72

 Bolton WC photo

William Ernest Bolton’s family  lived at The Commercial Hall, Coley, Reading at the time that William’s death was registered with the CWGC. Family information has been obtained from Ancestry UK. The 1911 census indicates that his father was Henry James Bolton and his mother Louisa Bolton, his sister called May, who was four years younger. In 1911  the family home at 82 Coley Place, Reading.  Father Henry was listed as a wood yard labourer and May was a packer at the biscuit factory. In 1911 William, then 25, was recorded as an unemployed army reservist. In 1901, then aged 15, William was working as a labourer at the tin factory which would have been Huntley Bourne and Stevens. It is assumed that William was recalled to the colours as soon as war was declared but no military record exists to confirm this. William and May had two other siblings but no information has been found about them.

William died on February 9th 1917, of wounds received in action.  He had been in hospital at Northampton War Hospital.  He was 30. William Bolton has no headstone in the war plot but his name is commemorated on the screen wall.

Notice of death was published in the Standard 24th February 1917.

John Ritso Nelson Bolton and Stuart Bladen Bolton

Army, Commemorated name/s, Jutland, Loos, Navy, Other Regiments

John Ritso Nelson Bolton
Lieutenant
104th Battery 22nd Brigade
Royal Field Artillery

Division 69
Extension

 John Ritso Nelson Bolton and Stuart Bladen Bolton were the sons of Colonel A. H. and Mrs Mary A. Bolton, of Laugharne, Carmarthenshire.  They are commemorated on the grave of ?.  The Berkshire Family History Society classification is 69B14.

John Ritso Nelson Bolton is buried in the Fouquieres Churchyard Extension, location Plot 1, grave number 39.  He died on the 25th September 1915, aged 22 years.  The village of Fouquieres is 1 kilometre southwest of Bethune and west of the British front line.  On the 25th September 1915 the Battle of Loos commenced.  Bombardment started on the 21st September.  The main Loos battleground was south of Bethune.  It is possible that John Bolton was either injured or killed in counter battery operations prior to the start of the battle.  Further research is needed.

 Stuart Bladen Bolton
Midshipman  R.N. H.M.S. “Indefatigable”, Royal Navy

 Stuart Bladen Bolton lost his life during the Battle of Jutland on the 31st May 1916.  He was aged 18.  Details of the Battle can be seen in the story of Charlie Wake Division 30.

Stuart Bladen Bolten is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.  Panel number 10.