Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce B.E.M., ‘Southern Desert, Iraq’ group of ten awarded to Flying Officer E. R. Bloomfield, Royal Air Force, late Royal Engineers

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.V.R. (354523 Flt. Sergt. Eric R. Bloomfield, R.A.F.); 1914-15 Star (44535 Spr. E. R. Bloomfield, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (44535 Spr. E. R. Bloomfield. R.E.) suspension mount bent on BWM, and suspension loose; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Southern Desert, Iraq (354523. Cpl. A/Sgt. E. R. Bloomfield. R.A.F.) suspension claw re-affixed; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (354523. F/Sgt. E. R. Bloomfield. R.A.F.) contact marks overall, generally nearly very fine (10) £700-900

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to the Royal Air Force between the Wars (1919-1939) formed by Group Captain JE Barker.

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Provenance: Spink, April 1990.

B.E.M. London Gazette 23 June 1936.

Eric Richard Bloomfield was the son of P. I. Bloomfield, a Button and Military Ornament Manufacturer. He was born at 20 Beaufort Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, in December 1897. Bloomfield served during the Great War with the Royal Engineers in the French theatre of war from 15 July 1915. He joined the Royal Air Force after the Great War, and had advanced to Acting Sergeant for service in Iraq, during 1928.

Bloomfield was promoted Flight Sergeant, and was awarded the L.S. & G.C. in 1937. He advanced to Warrant Officer in April 1939, and served with No. 14 Flying Training School, Kinloss, from that year. Bloomfield continued to serve throughout the Second War, and was employed as a Flying Officer in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch as a Mechanical Transport Officer. In later life he resided in Watton, Norfolk, and died in September 1963.

Sold with Second War campaign medal enclosure, with numbered slip; and a file of copied research.