William Arthur Bloomfield, Age 27
Lance Corporal, 588, 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade.
Rifle Brigade Cap Badge.
William was a native of Ipswich in the 1891 census he was 3 years old and living at 43 Stoke Street, Ipswich. He had first enlisted in Ipswich; on 27th September 1904, he was 18 years old and his occupation was given as a milkman; Williams details on enlistment were; Height: 5ft 6ins, fresh complexion, hazel eyes & brown hair. He served; Home - 27th September 1904 -7th November 1905. Malta - 8th November 1905 - 26th December 1906.
His record was slightly blemished twice, firstly on 25th May 1907 - For falling out on the line of march without permission to obtain water - 8 days C.B. Then on 2nd October 1907 - Found asleep on his post when on sentry - 168 hours detention-7 days CB. William was also granted one Good Conduct Badge - 27th September 1906.
After he had been discharged from the army he continued to live in Ipswich and on the 25th December 1913, at Ipswich Register Office, William married Emily Agnes Crapnell, born 1890, Swilland, Suffolk. They had 1 daughter: Agnes Mary E. Bloomfield, born July 1914, in Shropshire after the family had moved to Horsehay in March 1914 where William worked as a postman, the family lived at The Flat, Horsehay.
Being a reservist he was called up on the 24th August 1914 on the outbreak of war. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal on September 24th 1914, but was killed in action on May 4th 1915, writing to his widow informing her of her husband's death, a comrade at the front referred to the late soldier as "A hero and a Gentleman.
A memorial service was held at St Luke's Church. The vicar Rev F. A. Smith held the service with a crowded congregation. About 40 postal officials of the Wellington area were present and these included the Postmaster and Sub-postmaster of Wellington (Mr S.H. Tranter & Mr S. Russell) and the sub-postmaster of Horsehay (Mr S. Dabbs). Special prayers and hymns were used and the vicar preached a sympathetic sermon from the words of 'greater love hath no man that lay down his life for his friends'. At the conclusion of the service the "Dead March" in "Saul" was played.
William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres Panels 46 - 48 and 50. He had been awarded the Victory, British War & 1914 Star + Clasp medals and his widow (who had remarried) Mrs Emily Agnes Gough, received her late husband's 1914 Star at her home - 11, Wellington Road, Horsehay, Shropshire.
WWI Medal Rolls Index Card
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| Victory Medal | British War Medal | 1914 Star Medal |