BLOOR, JOHN WARDEN ("PATSY")

Photograph with kind permission from the Uttoxeter Advertiser

 

 

Source

CWGC

SDGW

Uttoxeter Advertiser

Other

Parents

James and Mary Bloor

 

 

 

3a

Mr. Thomas Bloor

 

 

 

2

Where born

Uttoxeter, Staffordshire

 

Yes

 

2, 3c

When born

About 1878

 

 

 

3c, 8b

About 1875

 

 

 

7

Address

38, Short Street, Uttoxeter (self, with sister, Mrs. Plant)

 

 

1a

2

Parents: 8 Short Street, Uttoxeter

 

 

 

8c

Short Street, Uttoxeter (father)

 

 

1a

2

Short Street, Uttoxeter

 

 

1a

3a

Spouse

No

 

 

1a

 

Children

 

 

 

 

 

Employment Before Joining up

Regular Army (Reservist)

 

 

1a

2

Painter at the Leighton Ironworks

 

 

1a

2

Where enlisted

Uttoxeter, Staffordshire

 

Yes

 

2

Regiment

North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales’s)

Yes

Yes

1a, 1c

2, 8b, 8c

Unit

1st Bn.

Yes

Yes

1a

2, 8c

Rank

Private

Yes

Yes

1a, 1b

2, 8c, 8d

Service Number

6393

Yes

Yes

 

2, 8a, 8c, 8d

Date of Death

17 June 1916

Yes

Yes

1b, 1c

2, 8d, 8f

Age at time of death

41

 

 

1a

 

Where Killed or died

France/Flanders - Wolverghem

 

 

1c

 

How he died

Killed in Action

 

Yes

1a, 1b, 1c

2

Location of Grave or Memorial

Dranoutre Military Cemetery – Grave I. F. 22

Yes

 

 

 

Uttoxeter Town War Memorial

 

 

 

2

Awards

South African Medal

 

 

 

1f

 

Patsy was a member of a large family. The 1881 Census3a shows him as one of seven siblings living in Short Street:, Uttoxeter.

The 1901 Census3c shows him as living in Whittington, Staffordshire. His numerous co-residents were all male, which leads us to believe that he was serving in the army in Whittington Barracks. Their diverse birthplaces are interesting. It is also a sobering thought that they will all have gone to the front soon after the outbreak of war. We wonder how many survived?

Before the war he lived with his sister (Mrs. Plant) at 38, Short Street1a, and was employed at Leighton Ironworks1a.

He was single1a and a Reservist1a who was called-up at the outbreak of war.[1a, 8d] He had previously served for 3 years and had seen service in India and in the South African (Boer) war. [1a].

We are very lucky that Patsy’s Pension Records8 still exist; they were nearly destroyed by incendiary bombs during the Second World War. Some of the pages were quite badly burnt, but they give us some interesting information about his early military career.

He joined the North Staffordshire Regiment8b at Lichfield on 11 February 19018b, 8d.

His enlistment papers give us a sample of his handwriting8a:

 

 

He was 23 years old8b, 5ft 11 ˝ inches tall8b and weighed 133 lbs8b. His chest size was 35 to 37 inches8b. He took the army number 63938a, which stayed with him later when he served in the Great War.

He had a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.

He had only been in the army for 10 days when he went absent without leave on 27th February 19018d. For this he lost 5 days of pensionable service8d. He served within British shores from 17th February 1901 until 8th April 19028f.

Patsy then served abroad for six months (183 days to be precise) in the Boer War8f. He went to South Africa on 9th April 1902 and returned on 8th October 19028f.

He transferred to the Army Reserve on 9th February 19048d. His Pension record credited him with 11 years and 345 days as a Reservist8f before he was recalled into the army immediately after the outbreak of war. War was declared on the 4th of August and he was posted on the 5th August 8d. He went to France with the British Expeditionary Force on 19th September 1914 and served for a year and 272 days before his death8f.

He had visited home about Christmas-time in 19151a, the winter before he was killed.

He died in Wolverghem in France1c, but we do not know the circumstances yet.

News of his death was brought to his family in a letter from Private Ford, another Uttoxeter man who was serving with Patsy. They had been at the front together ever since the outbreak of war and had also been through the South African war together. [1a]

His family also received a letter from the Chaplain1a, who told them that his body had been buried in a military cemetery. A record had been kept of the exact position of the grave and a cross was to be erected in the next few days. [1a]

 

 

This notice [1b] was posted in the Uttoxeter Advertiser in June 1917 to mark the first anniversary of his death:

 

 

In Loving Memory of Pte. J. Bloor (Patsy), killed in action June 17 1916.

In a distant land though his body may rest,

Far from us and the ones he loved best;

Still in our hearts his memory we keep –

Sweet is the place where he now lies asleep.

- Fondly remembered by Mother, Sisters, Niece and Nephew.

 

These two notices [1c] were posted in the Uttoxeter Advertiser in June 1918 to mark the second anniversary of his death:

In Affectionate Remembrance of our Dear Uncle, Pte. J. Bloor (“Patsy”), North Staffs. Regt., killed in action, Wolverghem, France, June 17, 1916.

One of the bravest, one of the best,

Doing his duty was called to rest;

“Thy will be done”; ‘tis hard to say

When the one we loved best was called away.

 -From Niece and Nephew, Mrs. Campion and Driver H. Campion (in Italy).

 

 

In Ever-loving Memory of our Dear Son and Brother, Pte. J. Bloor (“Patsy”), North Staffs. Regt., killed in action, Wolverghem, France, June 17, 1916.

Two years have passed, our hearts still sore,

As time rolls on we miss him more;

His loving smile and welcome face –

No one on earth can fill his place.

- From Mother, Sisters and Nephews