Name
Daniel Bloor
2 April 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/06/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14942
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
COLOGNE SOUTHERN CEMETERY
X.G.7
Germany
Headstone Inscription
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
UK & Other Memorials
Langleybury Village Memorial, Not on the Rickmansworth memorials
Pre War
Dan Bloor was born in Rickmansworth on 2 April 1886 (according to Red Cross records) and his birth was registered in Watford district in the second quarter of 1886. His parents were Daniel and Harriet (nee Rolph) Bloor.
In 1891 the family was living at Wilbee Terrace, New Road, Croxley Green. Dan was 5 and his father worked as a boatman on the canal. Also in the household with his mother were two siblings and his mother’s mother, Harriet Rolph. The Bloors were a canal family. Dan’s paternal grandfather was also a boatman. By 1901 the family was living at Lock Cottage, Hunton Bridge.
Daniel senior worked as a navvy on the canal while Dan junior, aged 14, was a gardener. In 1911, aged 25, he was still living with his parents at Lock Cottage, Hunton Bridge, and working as a domestic gardener. Dan’s cousin, [James] William Bloor, was also killed during the war.
The army paid Dan’s father £21 6s 1d, including a war gratuity of £13.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
Private Dan Bloor died of wounds while a prisoner of war. He is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery along with almost 2,500 Commonwealth servicemen who died in various parts of Germany.
According to Red Cross records he was taken prisoner at Arras on 3 May 1917. He was wounded in both legs and died on 20 June 1917 (CWGC has 18th June). In 1917 the 7th Bedfordshires formed part of the 54th Brigade in the 18th (Eastern) Division. They were involved in following up the German retreat to the Hindenburg line in March, including the storming of Achiet-le-Grand between 15 and 17 March. In May they fought at Arras (the third battle of the Scarpe). On 3 May, the day Dan Bloor was taken prisoner, the 18th division attacked Cherisy. The barrage commenced badly, the attack became confused and the attackers were held up by thick undamaged barbed wire in front of the German trenches. They eventually fell back to the original British front line.
The 7th Bedfordshires suffered 242 casualties during the attack including 48 missing, 4 missing believed killed and 3 wounded and missing.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs D Bloor, Lock House, Hunton Bridge, King's Langley, Herts, ordered his headstone inscription: “FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH”. Dan’s cousin, [James] William Bloor, was also killed during the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Mike Collins
