_s._ of the late Charles Blight; _b._ London; and was killed
in action, 19 Dec. 1914. Prior to the war he was employed as a Collier
at the Cambrian Pits, Clydach Vale. He _m._ in Bath (--), and had
two sons: Charles and Stanley.
=BLISS, CHARLES=, Major, 2nd Battn. 1st (King George’s Own)
Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army, 2nd surviving _s._ of Sir Henry
(William) Bliss, of The Abbey, Abingdon, K.C.I.E., J.P., late
Indian Civil Service, by his 1st wife, Mary, dau. of Edmund Rendle;
_b._ at Dindigul, Madras Presidency, 31 Dec. 1871; educ. Clifton,
Heidleberg and Sandhurst; and obtained his first commission in the
North Staffordshire Regt., 5 June, 1891; transferred two years later
to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.), of which he was
promoted Lieut. 4 July, 1896. In the Dec. following he joined the
Indian Staff Corps, becoming Capt. 10 July, 1901. After a period with
the 43rd (later the 8th) Gurkha Rifles and the Assam Military Police,
he was appointed double-company commander of the 1st Gurkha Rifles,
5 Dec. 1908, and obtained his Majority 5 Dec. 1909. In 1903–4 he saw
service in Tibet, being present in the action at Niani, and during the
operations at and around Gyantse, and in the march on Lhassa, being
slightly wounded. His services were mentioned in Despatches [London
Gazette, 13 Dec. 1904], and he received the medal with clasp. Major
Bliss commanded various punitive expeditions in the Nagar Hills, on
the North-West Frontier, between 1907 and 1911, and from 1911 to 1913
was in command of escorts on several political, survey and exploration
missions on the North-West Frontier. He had the Abor, Indian Police and
Durbar medals, and in 1914 was made a C.I.E. On the outbreak of the
European War he came to Europe with his regt., and died at Lille, 22
Dec. 1914, of wounds received in action at Festubert on the 20th. He
was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 5 April
[London Gazette, 22 June], 1915, for gallant and distinguished conduct
in the field. Major Bliss _m._ at St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge, 11
April, 1901, Mabel Emmeline, eldest dau. of Col. Thomas M. Maxwell,
late Sherwood Foresters, and had a dau., Lorna, _b._ 31 Aug. 1905.
=BLISSETT, WILLIAM HENRY=, Private, No. 18317, 3rd Battn., 1st
Infantry Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Edward
Blissett, of Bath, Butler, by his wife, Elizabeth (9, Coleman Street,
Brighton), dau. of Samuel Wills, of Liss, Hants; _b._ Paddington,
16 Dec. 1885; educ. Gordon Memorial Schools, Diss Board School and
Priory Road School, Hastings, and was then apprenticed as a carpenter
to Mr. Harvey, King’s Road, St. Leonards. In 1907 he went to Canada,
and after a year in Ontario, settled in Alberta, where on the outbreak
of war he enlisted. He came over with the 1st Contingent, in Oct. 1914,
and after training at Salisbury and Shorncliffe, went to the Front in
May and was killed in action in the trenches, 8 Nov. 1915, by a bullet.
He was buried in Wulverghem Cemetery; _unm._
=BLOFELD, D’ARCY FRANK=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Life Guards, only
_s._ of Frank Blofeld, of Dunster Lodge, Alcombe, West Somerset,
by his wife, Leslie Blanche, only dau. of Major Thomas Perkins, R.H.A.,
H.A.C., of Doverhay Place, Porlock, Somerset; _b._ Dunster
Lodge, afsd. 21 April, 1890; educ. St. Michael’s (Mr. Hawtrey),
Westgate-on-Sea, and Eton (Mr. E. L. Churchill’s House, 1903–8), where
he won the Junior Pulling in his last year. He served three years with
the Eton College Volunteers, but ill health prevented his going on to
Sandhurst, and he spent several years in the Argentine, where he became
interested in the breeding and schooling of polo ponies. He was living
at Staverton, near Cheltenham, when war broke out, and immediately
joined the Gloucestershire Yeomanry. On 9 Sept. he was gazetted to the
3rd Reserve Regt. of Cavalry, and took up his duties at Canterbury. He
was posted to the Household Cavalry on 24 Oct. and joined his regt.,
the 2nd Life Guards, at Windsor. On 7 Nov. he went to Flanders, and
served with his regt. in the trenches, and just before Christmas he
came home on seventy-two hours’ leave. His second experience of the
trenches was early in Feb., after which he obtained a week’s leave, but
was recalled in four days, and from then until his death, near Ypres,
on 12 May, he was at the Front. He and four other officers were killed
instantaneously by an explosive shell. He had won the liking of his
brother officers, and the confidence of his men. Mr. Blofeld was fond
of all sport, he was a finished horseman and a most promising polo
player. He was a member of the Cheltenham and West Somerset Polo Clubs,
his handicap being 5 goals Hurlingham, 1914. He hunted with the Devon
and Somerset Staghounds and the West Somerset Fox Hounds since early
boyhood, and during the time he was at Staberton, with the Cotswold
Hunt. He was greatly beloved by all who knew him and was a fine example
of how quickly a good sportsman can become a good soldier. His Col.
wrote: “As a horsemaster he was invaluable to me, and the fact that he
had been chosen for the duty in which he met his death, proves that his
Squadron leader relied on him.”
[Illustration: =D’Arcy Frank Blofeld.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Charles G. M. Blomfield.=]
=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._
[Illustration: =Joseph Bloxam.=]
=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._
[Illustration: =Michael John Blyde.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Reginald C. P. Blyth.=]
=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.”
[Illustration: =Tom Boddy.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =William Henry Body.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =E. M. Crawley-Boevey.=]
=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._
[Illustration: =Hastings Fortescue Boles.=]
=BOLITHO, FLEETWOOD JOHN=, P.O., 1st Class, 167341, H.M.S. Clan
McNaughton; lost in that ship, Feb. 1915.