The David Laban Collection of Territorial Force War Medal Groups

Family Group:

A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Captain R. P. Bloor, VI Corps Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Field Artillery
Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved ‘Arleux 8th Nov. 1917, Presented by H.M. The King to R. P. Bloor. Lt. R.F.A. 23rd Feb. 1918.’; British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. R. [sic] Bloor.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (2. Lieut. R. P. Bloor. R.A.) good very fine

Three: Captain W. H. Bloor, Royal Field Artillery, late Denbigh Hussars Yeomanry, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 3 January 1918
1914-15 Star (2.Lieut. W. H. Bloor. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. W. H. Bloor.) good very fine

Birkenhead Constabulary Diamond Jubilee Good Service Medal 1897, silver (H. Bloor. Member Watch Committee.) with top silver brooch bar, good very fine and rare (8) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Territorial Force War Medal Groups.

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M.C. London Gazette 18 January 1918; citation published 25 April 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in command of five mortars during a raid and kept them in action throughout the operations with great skill, though heavily shelled.’

Reginald Percy Bloor was born at Birkenhead, Cheshire, in 1895, the son of Alderman Henry Bloor, and served during the Great War on the Western Front with the Royal Field Artillery, latterly as Acting Captain, VI Corps Heavy Trench Mortar Battery. Awarded the Military Cross, he relinquished his commission on demobilisation on 27 February 1919, but was commissioned again in the Royal Artillery in 1939, transferring to the Royal Pioneer Corps in 1942. He finally retired with the rank of Captain on 19 November 1949.

William Henry Bloor was born at Tranmere, Cheshire, in 1891, the third son of the ten children of Alderman Henry Bloor, and was educated at Birkenhead School and later became an apprentice in the Thames and Mersey Marine Insurance Company Ltd. He joined the ranks of the Denbigh Yeomanry in 1907 and was one of those that formed the bodyguard for the Prince of Wales during his Investiture at Caernarvon Castle on 13 July 1911. Subsequently commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery, he served during the Great War on the Western Front from 29 November 1915, and was killed in action on 3 January 1918 whilst serving with “C” Battery, 149th Brigade, R.F.A. After his death his commanding officer wrote: ‘He was a very gallant and capable officer, and was greatly loved by the officers and men of the Brigade.’ His chaplain wrote: ‘I admired his simple manly character immensely; he was so good to the men and so thoroughly capable and dependable.’ He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Henry Bloor, the father of both of the above, of Northwich, served as an Alderman on Birkenhead Borough Council and as Chairman of the Water Committee. He laid the foundation stone of the Alwyn Dam and Reservoir on 3 October 1911.

The Birkenhead Constabulary Diamond Jubilee Good Service Medal was instituted in 1897 by the Birkenhead Watch Committee to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. Records of the Birkenhead Constabulary indicate that only 12 medals in silver were awarded to officers of the rank of Inspector and above, and twenty medals in bronze were awarded to Sergeants and Constables, for 20 on more years’ good service.