Part 21

=BLOMFIELD, CHARLES GEORGE MASSIE=, Major, 1st Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., elder _s._ of Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Massie Blomfield, K.C.M.G., for twenty-eight years in charge of the Port of Alexandria and afterwards Director-General of all Egyptian Ports, etc., by his wife, Rosamund Selina, 2nd dau. of the late Right Rev. Charles Graves, D.D., Lord Bishop of Limerick, and nephew of Alfred Perceval Graves, author of “Father O’Flynn,” and the “Irish Ballad,” etc., and of Charles Larcom Graves, Assistant Editor of the “Spectator,” and a member of the Inner Round Table of “Punch”; _b._ London, 19 June, 1878, brought up at Port House, Alexandria, Egypt, until nine years of age; educ. Stubbington House School, Farnham, Cheltenham College and Sandhurst; received his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Warwicks, 6 April, 1898, and was gazetted Lieut. 28 Dec. following, Capt. 16 Nov. 1901, and Major 19 Dec. 1914. He joined his regt. at Chatham and was sent to Malta, and in the following year (1899) to South Africa, and served through that campaign, 1900–2. He was employed with the Mounted Infantry, took part in the operations in Cape Colony, South of the Orange River (1900), in the Orange Free State, April to Nov. 1900, and in the Transvaal, 30 Nov. 1900, to 31 May, 1902, and received the Queen’s medal with three clasps, and the King’s medal with two clasps. On the close of the campaign he took over drafts to India to the 2nd Battn. at Bangalore. He then joined his parents at Assuan for the opening of the Great Dam, and was afterwards stationed in Ireland, where he continued his polo and hunting. He had meanwhile qualified as an interpreter of foreign languages and from May, 1905, to June, 1906, was attached to the Egyptian Army, and spent about a year in the Soudan, then rejoining his regt. at Aldershot. He became adjutant of the 4th (Special Reserve) Battn. of his regt. 31 Jan. 1912, a post he held for 3½ years, and after the declaration of war, did excellent work in preparing drafts for the front. He was posted to the 1st Battn., and joined the Expeditionary Force in France, 5 May, 1915, and fell, mortally wounded by a bullet through the head, 9 June, at 5 p.m. Gen. Landon, Royal Warwick Regt., wrote: “The regt. has sustained a loss indeed, which it will be hard to get over, and one it can ill afford. He was a most valuable officer and I know everyone loved him”; and Col. Poole, Commanding 1st Battn.: “His loss to me as one of my Coy. Commanders is irreparable. I had the highest opinion of him as a soldier, and he was worth anything in these hard times. We all mourn his loss.” He was on the staff of the “Army and Navy Gazette” and his humorous little work “The Young Officer’s Guide to Knowledge” cheered many a man in the hum-drum life of the trenches. A good violinist, he raised the band of the Special Reserve at Warwick. Major Blomfield _m._ at St. Paul’s, Wimbledon Common, 5 Oct. 1907, Hirell, elder dau. of the late James Clarence, of Castle Towers, Wimbledon Common, and had issue, Charles Clarence Massie, _b._ Aug. 1908 (_d._ in infancy), and Richard Beverley Massie, _b._ 25 June, 1913.

=BLOOM, JOSEPH HENRY=, Private, R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 6876, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BLOOMFIELD, SIDNEY HERBERT=, A.B., J. 8083, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=BLOUNT, JAMES WILLIAM=, C.E.R.A., 2nd Class, 269403, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BLOXAM, JOSEPH=, Private, No. 1732, 5th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 4th _s._ of Thomas Bloxam, of Outram Street, Leicester, Framework Knitter, by his wife, Ann, dau. of Thomas Bowby; _b._ Leicester, 24 Oct. 1878; educ. Cottage Homes, Counterthorpe, Leicestershire; enlisted in the Leicestershire Regt. 20 years ago, and after serving his time went to Australia in 1910. On the outbreak of war he joined the Australian Imperial Force, and was killed in action at Gallipoli, 7 Aug. 1915; _unm._

=BLOXSOM, WILLIAM JABEZ=, Petty Officer, 1st Class, 164154, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=BLUE, DOUGALL=, Capt., 3rd, attached 2nd, Battn. Scottish Rifles (The Cameronians), _s._ of Dugald Blue, of Glasgow; _b._ Glasgow, 10 June, 1878. He graduated M.A. at Glasgow in 1900, and three years later he accepted a scholastic appointment in Rhodesia. Whilst there he organised and commanded the first Cadet Corps ever formed in that country. He also held a commission in the Southern Rhodesian Volunteers. Returning to Glasgow in 1910, he became classical master in the High School, and received a commission in the School’s Contingent of the Officers’ Training Corps. In 1913, he became classical master in Hutchesons’ Grammar School, and there organised a Cadet Corps, which was affiliated to the 7th Battn. Scottish Rifles, Capt. Blue being appointed its first commanding officer. When the war broke out he received a captain’s commission in the 3rd Scottish Rifles, 3 Dec. 1914, proceeding shortly afterwards to France where he was attached to the 2nd Battn. Scottish Rifles. He was wounded in action near Fromelles, 9 May, 1915, and died two days later, and was buried in Merville Cemetery. He _m._ at Airdrie, 6 Jan. 1915, Katharine Armit, dau. of Thomas Swan, of Springhill House, Airdrie, Banker; _s.p._

=BLYDE, MICHAEL JOHN=, Private, No. 280, 1st Newfoundland Regt., 4th _s._ of John Blyde, of 49, Fleming Street, St. John’s, Newfoundland, employee of St. John’s Municipal Council, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Philip Grouchy, Fisherman, and grandson of George Blyde (who served through the Crimean War, and after completing his 21 years’ service settled at St. John’s, Newfoundland); _b._ St. John’s afsd., 19 Feb. 1895; educ. Christian Brothers’ Schools there; was a member of the Catholic Cadet Corps and the local Boys’ Brigade, and also a Bugler in the local corps of the Legion of Frontiersmen; and on the outbreak of the European War volunteered for Imperial service with the 1st Newfoundland Regt.; left for England, 6 Oct. 1914; went to the Dardanelles, 20 Aug. 1915, and died 26 Sept. 1915, of wounds received in action at Gallipoli; _unm._

=BLYTH, REGINALD CROMMELIN POPHAM=, Capt., 1st Battn. Gloucestershire Regt., attd. 2nd Battn. Royal Fusiliers, only _s._ of the Rt. Rev. George Francis Popham Blyth, D.D., late Bishop in Jerusalem and the East, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Col. James Arden Crommelin, R.E., and gdson. of the Rev. George Blanshard Blyth, by his wife (--), dau. of Col. Samuel Taylor Popham, 28th (now Gloucestershire) Regt., who served on the Duke of Wellington’s Staff [nephew of Gen. William Popham, who took Gwalior, and of Admiral Sir Home Popham, whose signalling code, still in use in the Navy, was used by Nelson for his famous signal to the Fleet at Trafalgar]; _b._ Darjeeling, India, 24 June, 1877; educ. St. Edward’s School, Oxford, and Brasenose College, Oxford; entered the Gloucestershire Regt. from the Militia 18 April, 1900; gazetted Lieut. 25 Oct. 1903, and received his company 14 Jan. 1911. Served in South Africa 1899–1900, taking part in the operations in Natal and the Orange Free State, and received the Queen’s medal with clasp. Capt. Blyth was with his regt. in India for some years, and acted as Divisional Staff Signalling Officer. In 1908 he was attached to the Egyptian Army for service in the Sudan, and was made a Bey. On the outbreak of the European War he was attached to the Royal Fusiliers, and was killed in action in Gallipoli, 4 June, 1915. He _m._ in London, 2 Aug. 1911, Norah (18, St. Leonard’s Road, Bexhill-on-Sea), dau. of Louis Edmund Hassells Yates, of Crawley, Sussex, and had one son, Lionel Popham, _b._ 16 June, 1912.

=BOAG, HUGH=, Stoker, P.O. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 4547), 279684, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BOARDMAN, ALBERT=, Gunner, R.M.A., 10135, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BOATMAN, JAMES=, Trimmer, 39810, H.M.S. Clan McNaughton; lost in that ship, Feb. 1915.

=BOBBETT, ALFRED=, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 19166, H.M.S. Monmouth; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BOBBINS, HARRY=, Private, No. 6899, 1st Battn. Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc., died 13 Jan. 1915, of wounds received in action; _m._

=BOCK, ROBERT HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 111828, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=BODDY, TOM=, Private, No. 8170, 1st Battn. East Yorkshire Regt., _s._ of the late John Thomas Boddy, of 69, West Parade, Hull, E. Yorks., Chronometer Maker to the Wilson Line of steamers, by his wife, Mary Artis, dau. of Capt. Ambrose White, R.N.R.; _b._ Hull, 22 Nov. 1887; entered the Army 13 July, 1905, served at home from 1905–7, and in India from 1907–13; returned to England in Dec. 1913, and joined the Special Reserve; mobilised 4 Aug. 1914, went to the front 7 Sept. 1914, was killed in action at La Courronne during the Battle of the Aisne, 16 Oct. 1914; unm. The commander of the section in which Boddy was serving writes: “My section under my command were sent out on point duty to the battn., that is about 200 yards in front, so as to prevent surprise. Tom and I were working as one pair in the centre, and I split up the others, ten men on each flank; we went along nicely until we came to the village of La Courronne, when we sighted a few Germans. These we drove along in front of us, for a distance of about half a mile. We then saw the enemy advancing towards us in large numbers, and a long shot wounded one of my men; we then took cover behind a house, and opened rapid fire to check their advance. I sent two men back immediately for reinforcements, another man was wounded, so this left me with only six men, and the enemy were within 400 yards of us, so I again sent for reinforcements which never came, so I made up my mind to try and get the wounded away with my remaining men, and I am sorry to say that it was whilst Tom and I were firing to cover the rescue party that poor Tom was killed.”

=BODIMEADE, HENRY CHARLES=, Private, No. 3776, 7th Battn. The Middlesex Regt. (T.F.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 10 June. 1915; _m._

=BODKIN, GEOFFREY=, A.B., 182664, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BODY, WILLIAM HENRY=, Chief Armourer, No. 5853, R.N., _s._ of John Body, Butcher (late Farmer); _b._ St. Cleer, near Liskeard, ... 1864; educ. Pelynt and Duloe, co. Cornwall; entered the Navy 28 June, 1886, served nearly three years on H.M.S. Firebrand, and on his return home was stationed at Devonport for some considerable time on H.M.S. Cambridge and H.M.S. Defiance; afterwards he served for about three years on the Penelope at the Cape of Good Hope, later went to China, and was for two and a-half years on the Tamar. He retired on a pension in 1908, but on the outbreak of war was called up and appointed to H.M.S. Majestic, and lost his life when that ship was torpedoed at the Dardanelles, 27 May, 1915, his body was picked up and interred at Sel-el-bahr. He _m._ at Talland Parish Church, near Looe, Cornwall, 19 Nov. 1891, Janie (196, Pasley Street, Stoke Devonport), dau. of Hugh Littleton, of Polperro, co. Cornwall, Builder, and had four sons and a dau.: William Maurice, _b._ 27 Aug. 1892, _d._ 25 Aug. 1911; Frederick Littleton, _b._ 10 Sept. 1893; Leonard Hugh, _b._ 28 Feb. 1899; Owen John, _b._ 12 June, 1907; and Doris May, _b._ 9 Feb. 1901. Body held the Good Conduct Medal.

=BOEATER, ALFRED=, Private, No. 6994, 2nd Battn. Royal West Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 18 Dec. 1914.

=CRAWLEY-BOEVEY, EDWARD MARTIN=, Capt., 1st Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., 2nd _s._ of the late Sir Thomas Hyde Crawley-Boevey, 5th Bart., by his wife, Frances Elizabeth, dau. of the Rev. Thomas Peters, Vicar of Eastington; _b._ Flaxley Abbey, co. Gloucester, 26 March, 1873; educ. Rugby and Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was appointed 2nd Lieut. in the Royal Sussex Regt., 6 March, 1895, being promoted Lieut. 31 July, 1897, and Capt. 17 Dec. 1902. He served in the South African War, 1900–2, taking part in the actions at Houtnek, Vet River (5–6 May), Zand River, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Diamond Hill, Wittenbergen, and Ladybrand, for which he received the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps, and was mentioned in despatches. In 1902 he was chosen to represent his regt. at the Coronation of King Edward VII, and came home with a detachment from the Cape, and afterwards served in East Africa, 1908–10 (Somaliland medal with clasp). After the outbreak of the European War he was sent from Dover on 11 Nov. 1914, with a draft of 200 men of the 4th Royal Fusiliers to France, and was with that regt. when he was killed in action, near Bailleul, 24 Dec. 1914. He was a noted marksman, and a very gifted draughtsman, and was greatly esteemed by all ranks. He _m._ at Christchurch, Mayfair, London, 31 Oct. 1905, Rosalie Winifred (Thorwald, Godalming, Surrey), yr. dau. of Col. George Conrad Sartorius, C.B., and granddau. of the late Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rose Sartorius, G.C.B., and had a son, Richard Martin, _b._ 31 July, 1907.

=BOLD, HAROLD EDWARD=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 8978; H.M.S. Monmouth; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BOLES, HASTINGS FORTESCUE=, 2nd Lieut., 17th Lancers, attd. Royal Flying Corps, elder _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Dennis Fortescue Boles, of Watts House, near Taunton, M.P., Master of the West Somerset Foxhounds, now commanding 3rd Battn. Devonshire Regt.; _b._ London, 21 June, 1895; educ. Evelyns, Eton and Sandhurst; received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 17th Lancers, 16 Dec. 1914, and joined the Reserve Battn. at the Curragh for training. In April he offered himself to the Royal Flying Corps as an Observer, and was accepted and appointed to duty with the Expeditionary Force in the North of France, and had some narrow escapes in reconnaissance duty, in which two of his pilots were seriously injured. Very early on the morning of 24 May he was engaged in making a reconnaissance over the German lines, when he was hit by a shot from an enemy anti-aircraft gun. The wound was seen to be extremely serious, but 2nd Lieut. Boles did not lose consciousness. When the machine returned to its base he was at once attended to by the surgical staff, placed under an anaesthetic and operated on, but died in the evening of the same day without recovering consciousness. The manner in which he met his death is best described in a letter from his commanding officer, Lieut.-Col. W. G. Salmond, who wrote: “Your son was very severely wounded in the head to-day by anti-aircraft fire whilst carrying out a reconnaissance. It occurred about 4.30 a.m. this morning. The wound was through the side of his head from front to rear. He was put under an anaesthetic. He was so plucky. When he was wounded he turned round to his pilot, Lieut. Bell Irving, smiled, and waved his hand, and when he came down I met him and he smiled again. He was conscious all that time, and even got out of the aeroplane, although he could hardly have been able to understand then. It is so distressing to have to write to you these things, but I thought you would rather hear them and know what grit he showed.” The machine was hit from the ground, where the enemy was concentrated in great force before the attack at Ypres--between Bercelaire and Dadizeele--at a height of over 7,000 ft. Lieut.-Col. W. G. Salmond also wrote again: “I cannot tell you how much we feel his loss. He was so quiet in all his work, which was always of the very best. I think few people realise what dangers our Observers have to face in the air. It is seldom that a machine returns from a reconnaissance without being hit. Your son showed no sign of the strain; he was always so cheery, ready and intelligent. He was by far the best at photography in the air this squadron or any squadron is likely to produce. In this he was as quick as lightning. He made up his mind in a moment that the area he was ordered to photograph was the area he was actually over at the time--no easy task--and took the photographs in succession at such a rate that the pilot had no need to turn and go over the ground again. When we were going to attack Hill 60 he took some photographs that morning of some German trenches and which were unknown to us, and was able to let our artillery know before attacking. The results he obtained were of the best the Flying Corps has produced. Photography of the German trenches are of tremendous value, and the results of his work were of very great value indeed to our Army. Only the day before his death he had been up photographing, and on his return showed me the back of his hand, which had been grazed by anti-aircraft splinter. He laughed at it. I am having these last photographs he took--which show the anti-aircraft shell actually fired at the machine bursting beneath, as well as the country he was asked to take--redone, so as to send to you when this war is over, as they are splendid examples of his skill and bravery. He was very gallant, and an example to us all.” He was buried at Bailleul; _unm._

=BOLITHO, FLEETWOOD JOHN=, P.O., 1st Class, 167341, H.M.S. Clan McNaughton; lost in that ship, Feb. 1915.

=BOLITHO, WILLIAM TORQUILL MACLEOD=, Lieut., 19th Hussars, elder and only surviving _s._ of William Edward Thomas Bolitho, of York House, Penzance, and Hannaford, Ashburton, D.S.O., J.P., Banker, Major 1st Devon Yeomanry, now Lieut.-Col. Commanding 2/1st battn. of the same [a cadet of Bolitho of Trewidden], by his wife, Ethel Grace, 2nd dau. of Robert Bruce Æneas Macleod, of Cadboll, co. Cromarty, and Invergordon Castle, co. Ross, J.P., D.L., Comm. R.N.; _b._ Pendrea, Penzance, co. Cornwall, 13 Nov. 1892; educ. Warren Hill, Eastbourne, and Osborne and Dartmouth Royal Naval Colleges. He passed into Osborne College at 12¾ years old, and was given a remove from his own term to a term above, which was only very specially done. He continued to be head of his term, and passed out of Osborne and Dartmouth Colleges with top marks. He joined H.M.S. Cumberland at Devonport in Jan. 1909, and also passed out first from there after a six months’ cruise, taking three prizes. He was then appointed to H.M.S. Commonwealth as midshipman with four months’ seniority; he served in H.M.S. Cochrane and in H.M.S. Bellerophon, when he left the Navy of his own accord. As midshipman in the Bellerophon he won the Stoddart Cup for boat sailing, presented by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. He then joined the Army by the Special Reserve, serving four months with the 11th Hussars at Aldershot, and passing into the Army by examination at Portsmouth in April, 1913; he was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 19th Hussars 23 May, and joined 24 June, 1913. On the outbreak of war he crossed to France with B Squadron on 23 Aug. 1914, and served with it throughout the winter and spring. He was killed in action near Chateau Hooge, 24 May, 1915; _unm._ His Major, writing to his father, said: “Your son is a great loss to us, his name had been sent in for special mention after the operations on 13 May, when he found himself temporarily in command of the squadron, and made very good use of his opportunity.”

=BOLLAND, THEODORE JULIAN=, Major, 9th Battn. King’s Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), late 16th Rajputs; _b._ 9 Jan., 1870; gazetted 2nd Lieut. unattached from the Militia 23 Nov. 1892, and after serving with the Manchester Regt., was appointed to the Indian Staff Corps, 27 Feb. 1894; joined the 16th Rajputs; promoted Lieut. 23 Feb. 1895, but was obliged to resign owing to severe attacks of malaria; went on half pay 26 April, 1900; and retired 11 June, 1902; volunteered for service when war broke out, and was gazetted Capt. 2nd Queen Victoria’s Rifles (6th London Regt.) 6 Sept., 1914; exchanged into the 9th Liverpools in March, 1915, went to France a few days later, was promoted Major on the 30th and was killed in action there 9 April following.

=BOLSTER, GEORGE EMIL=, Major, R.F.A., eldest _s._ of the late Surg.-Major Thomas Gardiner Bolster, A.M.S., by his wife, Ludivina (44, Lebanon Park, Twickenham), dau. of the late Lieut.-Col. John Frederic Nembhard, Bengal Army; _b._ Dagshai, India, 21 July, 1876. His childhood was spent at the various places where his father happened to be serving--India 4½ years, Devonport 2½ years, and Halifax, N.S., 5 years, during the whole of which time his mother was his sole instructress. On returning from Canada in 1888, he was sent to Ipswich School, and in 1883 passed direct into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. At the final examination two years later he passed out sixth on the R.A. list, and was awarded the prize for artillery. Gazetted on 2 Nov. 1895, he was promoted Lieut. 2 Nov. 1898, Capt. 1 Sept. 1901, and Major 17 Feb. 1912. Most of his time as subaltern was spent in Northern India, where he acted for two cold seasons as Staff Officer of the late Brig.-Gen. R. Purdy, R.A. The 36th Battery, to which he was posted on promotion, came home early in 1903, and was stationed at Newbridge, Ireland, where he was at once made Adjutant of the 35th Brigade, which post he held for over three years. In 1909 he was appointed Staff Capt. R.A., 5th Division Irish Command, but vacated that appointment in 1911, on being nominated for the Staff College. On completing the course, he was posted to the 106th Battery in South Africa. Recalled to England on the outbreak of war, his battery joined the camp of the 7th Division at Lyndhurst, and with it proceeded to Belgium. They were in the advance to Ghent to support the Naval Division from Antwerp, and the Belgian Army, and shared the hardships of the subsequent retreat to Ypres. He was killed in the historic stand which the 7th Division made near that place, 23 Oct. 1914. His engagement to Coralie, elder dau. of Col. Thomas de Burgh, of Oldtown, Naas, was announced one month before his death. Lieut.-Col. D. Fasson, commanding 22nd Brigade, R.F.A., wrote: “As a battery commander, he was hard to beat, and I certainly have never met a keener soldier. His whole heart was in his work.”

=BOLTON, CHARLES=, 1st Class Stoker (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8166), S.S. 103986, _s._ of William Bolton, by his wife, Louisa (Towns End, New Buckingham, near Attleboro’, Norfolk), dau. of Robert Duffield; _b._ Scole, 7 Oct. 1888; educ. there; joined the Navy 1906, and was lost in the North Sea when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed, 22 Sept. 1914; _unm._

=BOLTON, ERNEST JAMES=, Private, No. 10221, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of George Moore Bolton, of 60, East Street, Coventry; _b._ Warwick; served with Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action between 21 Oct. 1914 and 5 Feb. 1915; _unm._

=BOLTON, GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 6944, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.