BORN EDGBASTON, 31/12/1885. SECOND SON OF GEORGE FROST (1858-1938) & ELIZA JANE BLOOMER (1859-1933) , OF STRATFORD UPON AVON, WARWICKS. HIS FATHER WAS A PROFESSOER OF MUSIC AND AN ORGANIST. HE WAS EDUCATED WITH HIS THREE BROTHERS AS KING EDWARDS VI, SCHOOL, BIRMINGHAM.
HE WAS A SINGLE MAN. WORKED AS A BANK CLERK LIVING WITH PARENTS AT HOME (1911 CENSUS) AND THEN IN LEAMINGTON SPA. PRESUMABLY HE TRANSFERRED TO A HULL BANK.
HE ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE, IN THE 14TH (SERVICE) ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT, ON 10TH SEPTEMBER 1914. THIS WAS THE 1ST BIRMINGHAM PALS BATTALION. LATER COMMISSIONED AS SECOND LIUTENANT ON 16TH MARCH 1915. WENT TO FRANCE, ON 2ND JUNE 1915. FOUGHT AT NEUVE CHAPPELLE AND AT LOOS. HE BECAME ILL WAS RETURNED TO ENGLAND, ON 11TH NOVEMBER 1915. HE MISSED THE SOMME OFFENSIVE AND WAS NOT FIT FOR ACTION UNTIL THE 5TH APRIL 1917. HE RETURNED TO FRANCE AND COMMISSIONED TO FULL LIEUTENANT IN THE 3RD LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT. HE WAS WOUNDED ON 31ST JULY 1917, THE FIRST DAY OF THE PASCHENDAELE OFFENSIVE. ATTACHED TO THE 2ND BATTALION AT THE TIME OF HIS INJURIES.
HE DIED OF WOUNDS, ON 03/08/1917, AGED 31, AT NO: 32 CASUALTY CLEARING STATION, NEAR YPRES.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS & £371 WERE LEFT IN HIS WILL TO HIS FATHER GEORGE, AN ORGANIST.
HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE ROLL OF HONOUR AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, LOWGATE, HULL.
HE IS BURIED AT BRANDHOEK NEW MILITARY CEMETERY. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “THE ELEMENTS BE KIND TO THEE AND MAKE THY SPIRITS ALL OF COMFORT”
Arnold Bloomer’s inscription comes from Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra: an appropriate source for someone who was educated at Shakespeare’s own school – King Edward’s Stratford-upon-Avon. They are the words Octavius speaks to his sister Octavia in Act 3 Sc. 2 as she leaves Rome with her new husband Antony:
Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well:
The elements be kind to thee, and make
Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.
Bloomer died on 3 August 1917, the Birmingham Daily Post reported his death under the headline: Casualties Among Midland Officers.
Lieutenant Arnold Grayson Bloomer of the Lincolns, who received a mortal wound on 31 July, was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. G.F. Bloomer of Stratford-on-Avon, and grandson of the late Mr. George Yates, surgeon, of Birmingham. He was educated at King Edward VI’s School, Stratford-on-Avon, and on the outbreak of war he joined a Birmingham City Battalion. After training he was given a commission and went to France, where he remained for about eighteen months. He came home on sick leave, under-went a serious operation, and returned to France in May last. He was 31 years of age.
Bloomer received his ‘mortal wound’ on the opening day of the Passchendaele Campaign, 31 July 1917. He died at a Casualty Clearing Station at Brandhoek, three days later after receiving all possible care and attention as his parents were assured by both a sister and a chaplain of 32 Casualty Clearing Station, Brandhoek.
