Frank Pendle Bloomfield

A Civilian, Frank died on 29th of September 1940 aged 47. 

Frank was born at Lowestoft on 3 June 1893, a son of Charles Pendle and Ellen Sarah Bloomfield. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 21 June 1893 and his family lived at 2 Saint George’s Terrace, Beccles Road, and this was still their home in 1901. By 1911 they were living at 29 Saint George’s Terrace and Frank was working as a fisherman. In 1939 Frank’s parents lived at 59 Gorleston Road, Oulton. 

In 1913 Frank was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Hand. 

On 29 June 1913 Frank married Isabella Balls at Saint Margaret’s Road. Frank was a fisherman living at 29 Beccles Road, and Isabella lived at 21 Alma Road. By 1915 they were living at 5 Norwich Road and by 1920 they were living at 32 Alma Road which was still their home in 1940. 

Frank joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 23 February 1915 to serve as a Second Hand, service number SA 1329. From 17 March 1915 he served with the trawler Fennew. In 1917 Frank was awarded his certificate of competency as a skipper and he was promoted to Temporary Skipper on 27 December 1917. In 1918 he joined the trawler Vale of Fruin. He was demobilised on 19 June 1919. 

In 1921 Frank was the Mate on the trawler Margaret Hide, LT 746.  

On 29 September 1940 Frank was working at the Herring Market when a German Dornier Do. 17 bomber dropped six bombs on the Harbour and Dock area. The office at the Herring Market took a direct hit killing four sailors and four civilian naval employees (It is assumed that Frank was among the latter). See Anniversary of bombing raid marked by town commemoration | Eastern Daily Press (edp24.co.uk)

Frank's brother-in-law, Henry Balls, served with the Suffolk Regiment and died in 1917.