HENRY JOHN BLOMFIELD

Image from the Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – 1917

HARRY

Born: 1895, St. Matthew’s, Ipswich.

Baptised on the 18^th November 1906, at St. Clement’s Church, Ipswich, with his sisters – May Gertrude Blomfield, and Mabel Lilian Blomfield, and brothers – Frank William Blomfield, and Archibald Lawson Blomfield – family home at 10, Wykes Bishop Street, Ipswich.

Died: 9th October 1917; age 22; KiA while tending the wounded.

Residence: 278, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.

Occupation: Machinist – Ransome Sims & Jefferies

Enlistment Details: Location: Ipswich; Date: 14th November 1911; Age: 17 years & 3 months. Height: 5ft 5ins.

Date of Entry Therein: 25th April 1915 – Balkans.

Served in the Dardanelles from the landing on the 25th April 1915, to the time of withdrawal. After serving nine months in Egypt, he was sent to France.

Rank: Lance Corporal; Service Number: 473019.

Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps, T.F., 88th Field Ambulance.

Medals Awarded: Victory & British War & 1915 Star.

In October 1919, the body was discovered in a grave not marked with a cross, exhumed and identified by a Disc and Badge, before burial at Cement House Cemetery. The Disc and Badge were forwarded to Base.

Grave Reference:
XIV.D.15.
Cement House Cemetery,
West Vlaanderen,
Belgium.

Relatives Notified & Address: Eldest son of Mr. & Mrs. Blomfield, of 278, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.

CENSUS

1901   5, Gordon Terrace, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.

Henry was 5 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
John William Blomfield, 29, an Iron Foundry Labourer, born Ipswich.
Gertrude Mary Blomfield (nee Colins), 25, born Ipswich.
May Gertrude Blomfield, 3, born Ipswich.
Frank Wilfred Blomfield, 1, born Ipswich.

1911   278, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.

Henry was 15 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
John, 39, a Crane Driver – Foundry.
Gertrude, 35.
May, 13, a Printer.
Frank, 11.
Archibald Lawson Blomfield, 8, born Ipswich.
Albert Edward Blomfield, 2, born Ipswich.
Elsie Florence Blomfield, 1, born Ipswich.

Henry’s sister, Mabel Lilian Blomfield, died on the 10^th January 1908, and was buried in Section JJ at Ipswich Old Cemetery.

Soldiers’ Effects to Gertrude M. Blomfield – mother.

Henry is also remembered on the war memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich.

The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is part of the British Army, providing medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace. Together with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps and Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, the RAMC forms the British Army’s essential Army Medical Services. In combat, the men followed the troops over the top into no man’s land, suffering losses of 743 officers and 6130 soldiers killed, while delivering medical care to wounded exposed to enemy fire.