Born in Stowmarket, Suffolk, Believed by Canon Lummis (in his book, "Honour the Light Brigade") to be the son of a David Bloomfield.
Enlisted at Ipswich on the 21st of December 1836.
Age: 17 years 6 months.
Height: 5'7".
Trade: Joiner.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
In 1850 he was shown as being a "Batman" to Captain Godfrey Morgan on the latter's "B" Troop roll.
Discharged from Dublin on the 13th of December 1856. Cause of discharge: "Varix of right leg and thigh. Caused by mounted service and length of service — latterly unable to ride."
Served 19 years 237 days to count (under age 6 months). In Turkey and the Crimea, 2 years.
Aged 36 years on discharge.
Granted a pension of 7d. per day.
Next of kin (in 1854): Wife, Elizabeth Bloomfield, to whom he sent money from the Crimea, but no address given.
He also sent money from the Crimea to a brother, Thomas Broomfield.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Lived in the Brighton Pension District on discharge.
1871 Census
13, North Place, Brighton.
James Bloomfield, 53, Upholsterer, born Stowmarket.
Elizabeth, 51.
Emma, 19, Milliner.
__________
The 1881 Census shows him as living at No. 13 North Place, Brighton, Sussex, an Upholsterer Journeyman, aged 63, born at Stowmarket, Suffolk, with his wife, Eliza, a Dressmaker, aged 60, born in Ireland, and two unmarried children, Thomas, 30, and Emma, 29. The son being a Printer's Compositer and the daughter a Dressmaker.
The 1881 Kelly's Directory for Brighton shows him as being in business at No 13 North Place as a Cabinet Maker and his wife, Eliza, as a Dress-Maker, at the same address.
In an Account and Address Book formerly used by James W. Wightman when he was Secretary of the Balaclava Society, his name is crossed through and the word "Dead" written in the "Address" column. This latter was originally written in pencil, but although erased, the word "Brighton" can just be seen, and a letter sent to him confirming his membership on the 10th of January 1880 was also sent to Brighton. No indication of his date of death is shown.
The death of James Bloomfield, aged 66 years, was registered in the April-June Quarter of 1883.
His death certificate shows that he died at No 13 North Place in the parish of St. Peter's at Brighton on the 5th of May 1883 from "Bronchitis, 3 days", aged 66 years. His occupation was given as "Army Pensioner and Upholsterer's Master." A Frederick Palmer (nephew) of 35 New England Street, Brighton was present at, and the informant of, his death. (See copy of his death certificate in the "Certificates" file.
From the "Brighton Guardian" of the 16th of May 1883:
"Death of a Veteran — Mr. James Broomfield died suddenly last week from a shock to the system caused some time ago. The deceased was one of the six hundred whose deeds in the valley of Balaclava have been immortalised by the Poet Laureate. He was a private in the 17th Lancers and received several wounds in the charge. His remains were buried on Saturday last (11th of May) in the Parochial Cemetery."
He was buried in Brighton Town Cemetery, Bear Road, the records showing that he was buried in Grave No. MK 73 on the 11th of May 1883, at the age of 66 (this was his true age) from No 13 North Place, Brighton. No headstone was erected, (or at least if it was, it no longer exists).
Both men lived in the Brighton Pension District on discharge.
A son, Thomas, entered the Royal Military Asylum at Chelsea on the 16th of October 1857 at the age of 5 years and 11 months, and was "Withdrawn by his mother" on the 2nd of July 1863. Another source states that he was "Detained by his mother whilst on pass." Another son, David, had entered the Asylum on the 7th of December 1852 at the age of 8 years and 11 months and died there on the 3rd of May 1853 from "Gastric flu". Both children were shown as being the sons of James Bloomfield, 17th Lancers, and his wife, Elizabeth.]
Census information for 1871 kindly provided by Chris Poole.