Blomfield, Charles George Massie

Age: 36
Date of birth: 19th June 1878

Parents: Rear Admiral Sir Richard and Lady Rosamund Massie Blomfield
Wife: Hirell Massie Blomfield (nee Clarence)
Address: 23 Cliffe Hill, Warwick

Occupation: Soldier

Charles was born in London but until the age of 9 was brought up at Port House, Alexandria, where his father was first in charge of the Port of Alexandria and then Director General of all Egyptian ports. He was then educated at Stubbington House School Fareham, Cheltenham College and Sandhurst.

He married Hirell Clarence on 5th October 1907 at St Paul’s on Wimbledon Common.  At the time of the 1911 Census, Charles and Hirell were living at Cliff Hill in Warwick, with a cook and a house-parlourmaid.

They had two sons, Charles Clarence Massie in August 1908, who died in infancy and Richard Beverley Massie on 25th June 1913.

Military Service

Rank & Number: Major, None given
Regiment/Service: A Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Brigade/Division: 10th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of death: Wednesday, June 09, 1915
Cause of death/Battle: Killed in action
Commemorated/Buried: Talana Farm Cemetery, Ypres
Awards: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Commemorated locally at: St Nicholas Church

Charles received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the RWR on 6th April 1898. He was gazetted Lieutenant on 28th December 1898, Captain on 16th November 1901 and Major 19th December 1914. He initially served in Malta then in the South African campaign of 1900-2.

Source: De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914 – 1918

Here is a link to, and review of, the book by Charles in the article above:
The Young Officer’s Guide to Knowledge
By The Senior Major; Fourth Edition, Revised and Enlarged
Harrison & Sons; 45, Pall Mall S.W.; 1915

The G.O.C. writes: “Your little book rivals the official publications. From a long and varied experience, I may say that it contains everything essential for a young officer to know without the useless padding that confuses without instructing. All young officers in my command are lectured once a week by the Senior Major with your little work as text-book, during their first year’s service.”

Contributors

  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group

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