Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
1985.278.017 |
Object Name |
photograph |
Description |
Black and white, half-length portrait photograph of Corporal Percy Thomas Bloomer in soldier's uniform. He is wearing a uniform scarf around his neck. |
Year Range from |
1914 |
Year Range to |
1918 |
Medium |
cardstock |
Studio |
B. Scott McGregor |
Place |
Nelson |
Event |
First World War |
Provenance |
Corporal Percy Thomas Bloomer 912002 Born March 28th, 1900 in Kamloops, BC. Came to Nelson with family circa 1901 and lived at 923 Carbonate Street. He was a student at Nelson High School. Father was an engineer for the C.P.R. and an influential figure throughout the Kootenays. Religion was Church of England. Percy Thomas enlisted with the 196th Battalion (the Western Universities Battalion) in Nelson, on June 30th 1916. He was still attending high school at the time. Left Canada November 1st, and arrived in England November 11th, 1916. Absorbed into the 19th Reserve Battalion in December. Transferred to 128th Battalion in February, 1917 and then back to the 19th Reserve in May. Was kept out of heavier fighting due to suspicions of him being a minor. Returned to Canada in December, 1917 and was finally demobilized for being too young on February 16th, 1918. Returned to Nelson. In the time before his second enlistment, he was the physical director at the Nelson YMCA. He enlisted again on September 19th, 1918 in Vancouver, with the 2nd Depot Battalion. Suffered from a brief bout of influenza in October, 1918 while serving with the 260th Rifles. Complete recovery. Left Canada on December 26th, 1918 and arrived in Siberia on January 15th, 1919. Served there for several months and attained the rank of corporal in March. War Service Badge, class A, issued. Left Siberia on May 9th. Demobilized in Vancouver on May 29th, 1919. Lived in Rossland after the war; worked as a surveyor (began working for Comino in 1920). At some point, he studied Engineering at the Godalming College in England. Married Margaret Evangeline Fox, a stenographer, in Rossland on September 4th, 1922. In 1923, he was taken on staff as a tracer at Tadanac. Worked as an engineer at several company properties until 1935. Was superintendent and assistant superintendent of the Box mine, of Pinchi Lake, and of Sullivan. Worked as a mining engineer with Cominco in Trail for 44 years; promoted from operating superintendent to general superintendent on June 18th, 1955. He was awarded the Leonard Gold Medal in 1948/1949 for a paper on piller extraction in the Sullivan mine. Retired in 1964. Member of Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, the Association of professional Engineers of B.C., and the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. Lived in Victoria for some time until death. Died on June 22nd, 1970 in Victoria; 70 years old. Known family: Parents - Thomas Lees Bloomer (died April 10th, 1952) and Matilda Jane Bloomer (nee Stephens) (died October 27th, 1964); Siblings - Ada Clara Bloomer (died October 28th, 1981), Marjorie May West (nee Bloomer), and Lillian Ethel Craft (nee Bloomer); Wife - Margaret Evangeline Bloomer (nee Fox) (died December 6th, 1986); two children - unknown. |
People |
Bloomer, Percy Thomas McGregor, B. Scott |