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Paving stone laid for Pt Loosemore VC 11th Aug 2017


LeadFarmer

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On 11th Aug 2017 a paving stone is being laid by the war memorial Barkers Pool for Sheffield WW1 solder Pt Loosemore VC. I recall reading that his wife didn't receive any war benefits following his death, which was normal for the time. Loosemore Drive (off Gleadless Common) is named after him, but I think the blue plaque has long been stolen.

This deserves to be well attended...

http://www.dwr.org.uk/2017/01/01/arnold-loosemore-vc/

SgtALoosemooreVCG150px.jpg

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Sad that this hasn't gained much interest on here. The ceremony is next Friday 11th Aug 2017 at 12:30pm

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I attended this event today, and was pleased to see a good turn out for the service for Pt Arnold Loosemore VC. Today was the 100th anniversary of this brave mans actions during WW1.

If you want to read up on Pt Loosemore VC then there here are two good websites to read, 

http://www.loosemore.group.shef.ac.uk

https://www.chrishobbs.com/arnoldloosemore1917.htm

 

His story is made all the more sad by the fact that after his Military funeral, Sheffield Council decided to send the funeral bill to his wife, despite her being very poor. Her pain didn't stop there, because she married Arnold after he had received his injuries she didn't qualify for a War pension. 

 

Here are some photos of todays service...

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I wonder if any of these guests were family members?

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As I was on my motorbike and it was a dry pleasant day I went to see a few locations relevant to Pt Loosemore. My first stop was where he lived when he was born, 3 Dyson Place off Sharrow Vale Rd. Sadly the house isn't there any more, but heres the road...

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Just a few yards up the road is where his parents later moved to, 1 Lescar Lane, which is next to the Lescar pub. Again the house no longer stands...

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Then just a few streets away is the school that Arnold attended, Clifford Church of England School on Psalter Lane...

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I didn't go inside but I do know that they have plaque inside dedicated to him..

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Then off to Ecclesall Road South to see Arnolds' grave at All Saints church Ecclesall..

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At the southern aspect of the church are a couple of plaques, one with a map of where the grave is located. The plaques can be seen on the ground bottom left...

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Following this map leads you to this area of the grave yard, with another small plaque on the floor pointing out the grave..

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Continued......

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Arnold and his wife & child lived for a time on Stannington Rd, but I haven't yet found out exactly where. Due to his disabilities he struggled to get up the stairs of this 3 storey house and so the Rotary Club kindly supplied him with a wooden hut for him to live in. This was positioned in his garden. After his death, this hut found its way to the Rotary Club in Castleton where it stands today, and is used to holiday disadvantaged children. Heres a link to their website..

http://www.rotarycentrecastleton.co.uk

 

So off I went for a ride out to Castleton to see it. The Rotary centre is located just off the tight 'S'bend in the centre of Castleton. Turn right as you enter the first left bend (from Sheffield) and follow this road, going right where it forks. Its a rough bumpy track with the club at the very end. When I arrived there were people there preparing it for a wedding the next day, but they kindly let me have a look inside the hut..

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At one end on the wall is a plaque dedicated to Arnold..

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This was a very enjoyable day, it was great to see that these heros are being remembered, and it was lovely to see some of the locations associated with this brave man.

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On 11/08/2017 at 18:04, LeadFarmer said:

Arnold and his wife & child lived for a time on Stannington Rd, but I haven't yet found out exactly where

At the 1939 Census, Amy Loosemore was living at House 3 Court 11 Stannington Road (behind 211 Stannington Road, now appears to have been incorporated into 211 to eliminate the back to backs).  Of course, it is possible that Amy moved house after Arnolds's death.

598f488a8a52d_AmyLoosemore1939.png.bdb24f15ea7d7d375f700398d89db536.png

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4 hours ago, Edmund said:

At the 1939 Census, Amy Loosemore was living at House 3 Court 11 Stannington Road (behind 211 Stannington Road, now appears to have been incorporated into 211 to eliminate the back to backs).  Of course, it is possible that Amy moved house after Arnolds's death.

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Thanks Edmund, thats made things clear.

Looking at Google maps I see that 211 Stannington Rd appears to now be a new build, and as you say, the Court buildings in question are probably now swallowed up by these new builds?

 

36392566461_39d2813baa_b.jpgScreen Shot 2017-08-13 at 00.19.00

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On 7/15/2017 at 15:45, LeadFarmer said:

On 11th Aug 2017 a paving stone is being laid by the war memorial Barkers Pool for Sheffield WW1 solder Pt Loosemore VC. I recall reading that his wife didn't receive any war benefits following his death, which was normal for the time. Loosemore Drive (off Gleadless Common) is named after him, but I think the blue plaque has long been stolen.

This deserves to be well attended...

http://www.dwr.org.uk/2017/01/01/arnold-loosemore-vc/

SgtALoosemooreVCG150px.jpg

 

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Loosemore Drive never had a 'blue plaque' but once had a simple wall mounted  plaque giving the reasons why the Drive was named after Arnold Loosemore VC, DCM. This plaque was repeatedly vandalised and finally stolen.

Knowing this,  a replacement cast Bronze Plaque was donated by two Sheffield men in December 2014 which they had bonded to the wall! You can read about this here:

http://www.loosemore.group.shef.ac.uk/index_Page341.htm

and here:

http://www.thestar.co.uk/retro/diminutive-sheffield-military-hero-being-remembered-at-last-1-7105030

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