Capt Ronald Henry Bloore

• Age: 25
• From: Walton, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 28th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Voormezeele Cem Encl No. 3
  Panel Ref: XVI.A.3

Ronald Henry was born in the September quarter of 1892 the son of Charles George Bloore and his wife Amy Rose (nee Simonds). His parents married at St Mary's Church, Walton on the Hill in 1891. Ronald was baptised at St Mary's Church on 31st July 1982. His father was a merchant mariner on earlier census records.

The 1901 Census finds Ronald H. aged 8 living with his aunt at 10 Grey Rd, Walton. His aunt is Minnie Simonds aged 35 and born in Liverpool. The rest of his family were living at 9 Eastbourne Road, Walton. His mother Amy R. Bloore  aged 36 born in Bootle, and his brothers Alan C.  aged 7 and John N. aged 2 both born in Walton. 

He was educated at Walton National School and also at the Collegiate School, Shaw Street, Everton.

The 1911 Census  shows Ronald H. Bloore aged18 and an apprentice cotton broker living with his grandmother and aunt at 10 Grey Rd, Walton. His grandmother is Susanna Simonds  a 79year old widow, and his aunt Minnie Simonds  aged 45. His brother Alan C. is also at the proerty he is aged 17 and an apprentice in a shipping office.

When war broke out he was in camp with the King Edwards Horse, which he had joined the previous February. He had also had three years pre-war service with the Naval Reserve Volunteers. Early in 1915 he was commissioned, and joined the 14^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment.

His grandmother died on 08th May 1915, her death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 11th May 1915

Simonds - May 8, at her residence 10 Grey Road, Walton in her 84th year, Susanna, widow of the late Captain Henry Simonds, and the beloved grandmother of Ronald H, and Alan C. Bloore. Funeral at Sefton Church today, Tuesday at 3 p.m. (Friends please accept this - the only - intimation).

He went to France in September 1915 and shortly after was transferred to the Salonika Front. He returned to the UK on sick leave in October 1916.
 
Ronald was promoted to Lieutenant on 01st July 1917,and returned to France in September 1917 eventually being posted to ‘B’ Company of the 17th Battalion on 3rd October 1917. He was promoted to Acting Captain in command and of ‘A’Company with effect from 16th November 1917 and was sent to No.98 Field Ambulance with gastritis on 18th December 1917, returning to the unit on the 31st. During that month he was responsible for writing the War Diary, which bears his signature. He was granted leave on 23rd January 1918 and rejoined on 09th February 1918.

He was killed by a sniper on 28th April 1918, aged 25. 

After he was shot by the German Sniper the stretcher bearers got to him almost immediately, but he was already dead. His body was taken to Battalion Headquarters and was later stated to have been buried in Viamertinghe Military Cemetery. However this must have been an error as he is buried in Voomezeele Enclosure Cemetery No. 3.  Voomezeele is near to where he was killed, but nowhere near Valmertinghe.

Ronald now rests at Voormezele Cemetery Enclosure No.3  at PlotXVI, Row A,  Grave 3.where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"THY WILL BE DONE"

The Voormizeele Enclosures (at one time there were a total of four, but now reduced to three) were originally regimental groups of graves, begun very early in the First World War and gradually increased until the village and the cemeteries were captured by the Germans after very heavy fighting on 29 April 1918.

Voormezeele Enclosure No.3, the largest of these burial grounds, was begun by the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in February 1915. Their graves are in Plot III, the other Plots from I to IX are the work of other units, or pairs of units, and include a few graves of October 1918. Plots X and XII are of a more general character. Plots XIII to XVI were made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated sites and smaller cemeteries to replace the French graves (of April and September 1918) that were removed to a French cemetery. These concentrated graves cover the months from January 1915 to October 1918, and they include those of many men of the 15th Hampshires and other units who recaptured this ground early in September 1918.

There are now 1,611 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in Voormezeele Enclosure No.3. 609 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 15 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of five casualties whose graves in PHEASANT WOOD CEMETERY could not be found on concentration.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Ronald's death was reported in the Liverpool Echo 15th May 1918

ROLL OF HONOUR

BLOORE - April 28, killed in action, age 25 years, Captain RONALD HENRY BLOORE (K.L.R.), elder son of Captain Bloore, nephew of Miss Simonds, Grey Road, and dearly loved fiance of Nina Hodgson, Queens Drive, Walton.

His batman, Charles Hankin was also killed in action on 28th April 1918. Charles' DeRuvigny Roll shows:-

Charles acted as an Officers servant and on going to search for his master who had been killed was himself killed a few minutes later. [In the trenches, a servant(batman) carried his personal weapon and often acted as a bodyguard, while the officer carried out his duties as a platoon, company or battalion commander 

Soldiers Effects not found, Pension record has no award.

His aunt was the victim of a dreadful scam which was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 31st August 1918 under the header;

A PAINFUL INTERVIEW.

"Officer's" Mock Sympathy.

BEREAVED RELATIVE VICTIMISED.

A remarkable story of alleged deception on the part of a young fellow who represented himself to be an officer in the Army was related to the deputy stipendiary magistrate (Mr Kinghorn) at the Liverpool Police Court yesterday. The accused was Walter Herbert Brackley (25), who wore the uniform of an Army lieutenant, and who was charged with having obtained £5 by false pretences from Miss Simonds. Chief Inspector Holbrook said it was fortunate the man had been brought to book because the information received show that he had been going about the country defrauding people in a mean contemptible way. He wore the uniform of a lieutenant, and by some means or other he got to know of persons who had lost relatives at the front, ferreted out something about the men who had been killed, and then got himself introduced to their family. From them he succeeded in getting money.

Talk with a Verger.

James Henderson, the first witness, said he was with the verger at St John the Evangelist's, Rice Lane, and he saw the prisoner passing his door on August 14th. He was in officer's uniform. Seeing him enter the church gates, witness followed him into the church and found him reading the Roll of Honour list inside the church door. He asked if witness knew anybody on the Roll of Honour named Bloore. Witness replied "Yes, Captain Bloore killed." He said "Do they know he is killed?" Witness answered that everybody around the neighbourhood knew it; he was so well known.

Witness then took prisoner into the vicar's room and showed him the last letter of the Captain to the vicar before he was killed. Prisoner asked "Do you know where his wife lives?" Witness told him he had no wife. "Well," he said, "His mother" witness said. "He has none that I am aware of. He lived with his aunt." He then asked where she lived, and witness told him in Grey Road. Witness suggested that prisoner should interview the school mistress, who knew all about Captain Bloore. On the way to the school he asked if any other officers were connected with the church. Witness replied "Three." and mentioned their the name. "What killed?" queried the prisoner. Witness replied in the negative. He left prisoner in the school.

Shortly afterwards witness saw Detective Edwards, and told him what had taken place. Witness then went to the residence of Captain Bloore's aunt Miss Simonds, 10 Grey Road. After noticing that the prisoner had left the school and walked in that direction. From what Miss Simonds told him he again communicated with Detective Edwards. At no time did the prisoner give any information about himself.

Interview with Dead Officer's Aunt.

Miss Minnie Simonds told the court that Ronald Bloore, her nephew, lived with her from the age of eight and was in The King Edward's Horse when the war began. Subsequently he obtained a commission in the King's, and was drafted overseas. He was gazetted a Captain, and was killed in action on the 28th April 1918. Coming to the 14th of August last, the witness related that the prisoner called at her house and told her he had been with her nephew when he was killed. He said he had come from France the previous Sunday. He had travelled from Newcastle especially to see her. He and Bloore shared the same dugout, and when the officer fell the prisoner represented, he told him that his last thoughts were for her (the witness).

"I thought you must have been his wife, for I did not think anyone could think so much of his aunt," sympathetically commented Brackley. He added that his own mother was averse from his making visit, but he pointed out that Bloore would have done the same had anything happened to him. The prisoner in a general conversation he purported to tell her how her nephew had been killed and what had happened.

A Letter of "Sympathy."

"He had a military funeral and he was buried in a grave with a cross on it marked with his full name and rank," he told her. "I have taken his place in command." He looked so worn out that she invited him to tea, and he wrote a letter about the officers death which she wanted to put in the papers. The letter was as follows:-

Dear Mrs Simonds, - it is with the deepest regret I have to write at tell you of Captain Bloore M.C., of my company, and be assured of the whole regiment's sympathy in your and our great loss. I really cannot fully explain to you the feelings I have regarding him, suffice it is to say that he was the bravest officer that has died for his country.

I will try and explain in a few words what happened. We were hard pressed by enemy shell and Infantry fire, when the Captain, at a critical moment rallied his company, and thus saved what would have been a sorry moment for the Liverpool's. Seeing one of his men stumbling in over the parapet wounded, he got over to help him but a sniper caught him, and he fell back mortally wounded in the head. Thus ended one of the best of officers and gentlemen that ever lived.

I repeat I cannot explain or write what I thought of him, but I'll leave it to you....

Lieutenant G. THOMPSON.

(attached 17th Liverpool).

Witness went on to say she gave him her nephew's photograph. Brackley then mentioned that he had lost his return railway ticket. He said he was short of money and would have to wire for some. She offered him 30 shillings believing that he was honest and a genuine lieutenant, but he told her that would not be sufficient. He said he started with £11 and spent it all.

It would be all right, he told her and he would give her a cheque for the amount, but she was not to pass this for payments until two days later, in as much as he would wire her the money. She gave him £5, and he drew her cheque also signed in the name of Thompson. Later, after the verger had called and spoken to her at the door, they remained in conversation until it detective arrived and took him away.

"I believed all along he was an officer, and that his story he told was a true one," added Miss Simonds, "Otherwise I would not have parted with the money."

Detective Constable Evan Edwards deposed to having gone to 10 Grey Road on August 14, following a conversation with the witness Henderson. Miss Simonds opened the door. Prisoner was in the hall as though on the point of leaving.

Witness related to conversation that ensued between the three of them in Miss Simonds's dining room. He asked Miss Simonds to tell him what the prisoner had said to her. Miss Simonds did not appear to approve his (witness) interference. She said, "He (meaning the prisoner) is a respectable man and has come to tell me how my nephew, Ronald Bloore, died."

Witness asked prisoner to produce anything that would identify him as an officer in His Majesty's Army. He produced a blank Army railway form, and stated, "Officers do not carry any leave pass." Witness questioned him about what he knew of Captain Bloore. "I was in France," he replied, "I was with him when he fell. I belong to the Royal Engineers, and was attached to the 14th King's Liverpool, and was very fond of the Captain," witness said. He was not satisfied with the statements and must detain him until he could verify what he had said. To this, prisoner retorted "I am an officer and not subject to interference by the police." He added that he was Lieutenant Thompson. Witness took him to Rice Lane bridewell. He there gave the name of Walter Herbert Bradley, and admitted being a private and an absentee from the Worcestershire Regiment since March 7th. He said that whilst on route from France, he cleared out of Waterloo station. Questioned as to a cheque book found in his possession, he said "I got it at the house, I don't know where." Witness charged him with obtaining £5 by false pretences from Miss Simonds. He made no reply.

This completed the case for the police.

Prisoner asked for a remand for seven days before being committed for trial. "I am waiting for some documentary evidence," he said, "I have some papers coming through to submit at at the trial. I shall plead guilty there but I want them as evidence before being committed."

The prisoner was remanded for seven days.

The Liverpool Echo of 03rd October 1918 reported the Army deserter Walter Herbert Brackley was sentenced to 5 years hard labour. He had been convicted for fraud several times before, and 28 similar cases of visiting fallen officers had come to light since. He asked the court if he could rejoin the Army, but the Recorder said they would not like such a man.

Further reports of his reprehensible behaviour have come to light, although the Echo refer to him as Brackley and the Bucks Herald and Examiner refer to him as Bradley he is undoubtedly one and the same man and probably gave false details to the Police on each occasion:

Bucks Herald 22nd July 1916:

"On Tuesday Private Walter Herbert Bradley of the 2/4 Reserve Battalion, Essex Regiment, was committed for trial at the next Bucks Quarter Sessions charged with obtaining money by false pretences"

The Bucks Examiner of 27th Oct 1916 refer to the sentence passed by the Court:

The Chairman, after the court had considered the case, addressing the prisoner said "Prisoner at the bar, yours is a very bad case. Upon the facts I have before me, it is clear that you - for years beginning as long ago as 1907 - you have been obtaining money by false pretences. The sentence of the Court is that you go to prison for 12-months with hard labour."

Ronald Bloore is commemorated on the following Memorials

St John the Evangalist Church in Walton, Liverpool.

Cotton Association, Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool

Collegiate  School, Shaw Street, Liverpool 

His father died on 11th January 1920, probate was granted on 08th April 1920.

His mother remarried to Arthur J. Ashworth in the June quarter of 1920.

She died in the March quarter of 1941, aged 76. 

The text below was taken from the Liverpool Scroll of Fame book and gives a real insight into Ronald's pre war life and his service:    

Captain Ronald Henry Bloore

17^th Battalion

The King’s ( Liverpool Regiment).

Sunday 28^th April 1918,was a critical day for the 17^th King’s (Liverpool Regiment). Shortly after noon the Germans had commenced a violent attack and they did not succeed in any way until the late afternoon, when continuous bombing caused our men to give way. The position, which they had fought so hard to retain, was rendered all the more untenable from the fact that the troops on the left had already fallen back and left a perilous gap.

Seeing the desperate situation of his men, Captain Ronald Henry Bloore ordered his own company to retire to the rear, and then he helped to extricate other sections of the Battalion and got them to re-organise. Nearly all the other leaders were casualties. It was then that this gallant and resourceful officer saw a wounded man trying to crawl back to safety. Captain Bloore stood up as if about to climb out of the trench to bring the wounded warrior in. Unhappily a German sniper was waiting, and he was shot in the temple whist preparing to perform this heroic errand of mercy.

Bloore was the son of Mr And Mrs Charles George Bloore, and a nephew of Miss Minnie Simonds, of 10 Grey Road, Walton-on-the-Hill, and of Mr. And Mrs. John Walker, of Heliopolis, Egypt. He was 25 years of age and a man of warm-hearted sympathies, ever generous in thought, eager to  help where help was needed, and consistently cheerful and bright. Church work appealed to him, and especially so that among the children, of whom he had an affection uncommon for his years. He was also an all-round sportsman. Nor must his sterling public spirit be overlooked in any estimate of his qualities. During the Liverpool strike in 1911 he was one of those volunteers who worked at the generating station and so ensured the maintenance of the city’s electrical supply. Further-more, when the Lusitania riots occurred in 1915 he happened to be home on leave, and he went to help the Police in curbing the excesses of the incensed crowd who attacked the German shops in Liverpool.

So public-spirited a young citizen could obviously not stand aside when the war began. Indeed, when hostilities commenced he was actually in camp with the King Edwards Horse, which he had joined the previous February. He had also had three years pre-war service with the Naval Reserve Volunteers. Early in 1915,on the basis of merit, he was a successful candidate for a commission, and this was secured in a Kitchener infantry unit, the 14^th King’s. With them he went out to France in the following September, six weeks or so later he was transferred to the Salonika Front, and there he went through the disastrous retreat from Serbia when the big thrust in the Near East theatre was launched by the Central Powers.

Captain Bloore came home on sick leave in October 1916, and short periods of service at Pembroke Dock and at Prees Heath, where he was temporarily attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers, were followed by his return to France. This was in September 1917,and then he was attached to the 17^th K. L. R.,a unit of the “Pals Brigade.” In several actions he gave proof of his military capacity.

“He was a brave and fearless soldier and a brave leader of men. “ wrote his Colonel after his death, and the manner of his heroic end, in the circumstances which have already been described, justify those words in every conceivable respect.

Speaking now of his career before he entered the army, it might be mentioned that Ronald Bloore was educated at the Walton National School and the Collegiate School, Shaw Street. Electing to enter the cotton business, he was appreciated with Messrs Reynolds and Gibson, a firm which in its contribution of recruits from among its both principal staff, probably held the best proportionate record of any office in Liverpool. When the war broke out he was Secretary of the Alexandra Cotton Company, which belonged to this same firm, and that fact alone testified to the faith they had in his trustworthiness and business capacity.

The sublime sacrifice this young soldier made in order to succor a comrade was in keeping with that noble-hearted impulse that distinguished him so often in every sphere. Such a death, sustained while attempting to give a helping hand to one in distress, was probably the kind he himself would have prized most highly. Stretcher-bearers hastened out as soon as he had been shot, but they were too late to render aid, and they reverently removed the body back to Battalion headquarters. It was laid to rest in the military cemetery at Valmertinghe. He had given his country the best and all he could give to establish her principles of justice and right.