Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On 16 July, Private Bromfield left Codford for Southampton and proceeded to Le Havre, France (just a week earlier, his brother Davenport back in Queensland had celebrated his first wedding anniversary to Miss Emily Dorothea Johnson). As was practice in the field, soldiers were periodically given opportunity to consider their Wills. On 18th July, Private Jack Bromfield refreshed his, leaving all his personal estate to his mother living in Roseville. Very sadly, Private Bromfield would be killed two weeks before his Will reached its first anniversary.

He joined the 15th Battalion in the field on 4 August. When the 24th Reinforcements including Jack Bromfield arrived on the continent, the focus was in Belgium and an advance on the Hindenburg Line.

On 21 September, Private Bromfield reported sick and he was transported by Field Ambulance to No.1 Casualty Clearing Station at Chocques but then moved on to the 3rd Stationary Hospital at Rouen. He was suffering pyrexia of unknown origin (P.U.O.). There would have been no wounds visible as cause of infection, no obvious viral explanation, but still the soldier would have had a persistent raging temperature. By 26 September, he was sufficiently improved to transfer to No.2 Convalescent Depot, Two days later, he was fully recovered and marched out to the 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot at Le Havre. He rejoined his unit in the field on 6 October. His total absence from the line had been 15 days.

In October 1917, Charles Bromfield from Atherton wrote to Base Records. He requested that, in future, cabled reports regarding their sons be sent directly to their mother who was in Sydney. Because cables rarely conveyed good news, he must have prayed no further cables would come, but his hopes were forlorn.

On 21st December, Private Bromfield was ill again and took one week to recover.

In March and April 1918, the 15th Battalion helped stop the German spring offensive. On 28 March, Private Bromfield suffered gunshot wounds to his face and left knee. He was transported by Field Ambulance to 56th Casualty Clearing Station at Gezaincourt but next day transferred to 20th General Hospital, Camiers. His mother, who was living at €œMalanda€, Pockley Avenue, Roseville, North Sydney, was advised of his wounding on 15 April. On 29 May 1918, he rejoined his unit in the field.

On 4 July 1918, in the first hours of the Battle of Hamel, Private Jack Bromfield was killed by a trench mortar shell. He was buried later that day at the place where he died, about 1400 yards south west of Hamel. The burial was performed by the 15th Battalion Pioneers under Corporal McQuillan. A simple wooden cross marked the grave. Quite comprehensive detail of Jack'€™s death and burial were communicated to Base Records from London in January 1919 but rather less was eventually communicated to the family at Chatswood on 3 March 1919
Courtesy of Adopt a Digger.