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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Norman Bradby Bloomfield

In memory of:

Private Norman Bradby Bloomfield

June 6, 1916

Military Service

Service Number:

440296

Age:

24

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)

Division:

5th Bn.

Additional Information

Son of Charles Jo.seph Fulcher Bloomfield and Lucy Mary Bloomfield, of Brambles, Tilchurst, Berks, England.

Commemorated on Page 55 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

MENIN GATE (YPRES) MEMORIAL
Belgium

Grave Reference:

Panel 18 - 26 - 28

Location:


The Menin Gate Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (now Ieper) in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai. It bears the names of 55,000 men who were lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and erected by the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission, it consists of a Hall of Memory", 36.6 metres long by 20.1 metres wide. In the centre are broad staircases leading to the ramparts which overlook the moat, and to pillared loggias which run the whole length of the structure. On the inner walls of the Hall, on the side of the staircases and on the walls of the loggias, panels of Portland stone bear the names of the dead, inscribed by regiment and corps. Carved in stone above the central arch are the words:


TO THE ARMIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO STOOD HERE FROM 1914 TO 1918 AND TO THOSE OF THEIR DEAD WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.

Over the two staircases leading from the main Hall is the inscription:

HERE ARE RECORDED NAMES OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN YPRES SALIENT BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

The dead are remembered to this day in a simple ceremony that takes place every evening at 8:00 p.m. All traffic through the gateway in either direction is halted, and two buglers (on special occasions four) move to the centre of the Hall and sound the Last Post. Two silver trumpets for use in the ceremony are a gift to the Ypres Last Post Committee by an officer of the Royal Canadian Artillery, who served with the 10th Battery, of St. Catharines, Ontario, in Ypres in April 1915."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Inscription on the Menin Gate … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Inscription on the Menin Gate … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Norman Bradby Bloomfield Private 440296 5th Battalion Saskatchewan Regt. Canadian Expeditionary Force. Division 29 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. Post navigation ? B.C. Blake MS 5339/8 Photograph of Norman Bradley Bloomfield Norman Bradby Bloomfield (Born 1892) Date of birth: 1892 Parents: Charles Joseph Bloomfield and Lucy Mary Bloomfield of Brambles, Tilehurst, Berkshire Rank: Priva

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Norman Bradby Bloomfield Private 440296 5th Battalion Saskatchewan Regt. Canadian Expeditionary Force. Division 29 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. Post navigation ? B.C. Blake MS 5339/8 Photograph of Norman Bradley Bloomfield Norman Bradby Bloomfield (Born 1892) Date of birth: 1892 Parents: Charles Joseph Bloomfield and Lucy Mary Bloomfield of Brambles, Tilehurst, Berkshire Rank: Priva

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