BOMBER, Jeffrey A

Jeffrey Bomber lived at 'The Poplars', Heath Lane, Oldswinford, and attended Hill St. Council School. He was also a member of the Wesleyan Methodists. He worked at Weaver's Garage and on the outbreak of war volunteered to join the Worcester Territorials. He then went overseas in May 1916 with the 2/7th Battalion. After action on the Somme in 1916 he was selected for officer training and commissioned on the 12th July 1917. He was posted to the 3rd Worcesters in the 25th Division and soon became an energetic and popular officer in his Company. He served at Third Ypres during 1917 and survived the first German Spring offensive on the Somme in March 1918. After heavy losses the Worcesters were sent to the Ploegsteert sector where they were in the front line for the second German offensive on the Lys starting on the 9th April. The Worcesters were forced back for five days until they reached the Ravelsberg. This was the furthest point of the German advance and within six months victory had been won. However, Lieutenant Jeffrey Bomber was killed in the crucial defence of this hill on the 14th April. He was slightly wounded and taken to a dressing station which was then destroyed by a direct hit from a shell. He was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert, Stourbridge, St. Thomas's church, Methodist church and Greenfields school Memorials.