Remembering VJ Day: Arthur Bomber

World War Two Veteran Arthur Dennis Bomber, fondly known as Bomber, passed away at the age of 100.

Arthur was born on 8th July 1919. His parents separated when he was three years old and both he and his brother Jim spent a period of time in a children’s home before being raised by their maternal grandmother.

On 15th January 1942, 22-year-old Arthur was called up for service and joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment. He married his sweetheart Florence, his Floss, in 1942 on a 48-hour pass. After training he was sent to India. He saw action on The Arakan Front, before his regiment was sent to Kohima to relieve the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment, who despite great losses has managed to halt the Japanese advance.

On 23rd April 1944, he was badly wounded in battle, suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg, and given the last rites by a Chaplain. He survived and left India in July 1944. Due to his injury, Arthur was discharged from service in September 1944 in the rank of Corporal with a disability pension of £1.6shillings. His health suffered as a direct result of his injuries and two years later the decision was made to carry out a below knee amputation. He later became a Blesma Member in 1946.

Before the war Arthur had trained as a Plumber, but when he returned the only job he was offered was as a lavatory attendant; this is what disabled servicemen were thought capable of doing. As luck would have it, he got a job with a building firm and was able to work as a Plumber. He never learned to drive and so rode to jobs on his trades push bike, with his tools in the front. He did not allow anything to get in his way; he climbed ladders to do flashing around chimneys and guttering and just got on with life. He retired at age 62 on the advice of his GP who told him “Arthur you have done enough”.

Arthur and Floss had one son, Keith who was born in 1945. Keith has fond memories of his Dad setting him on the front of the bike and off they would go. Keith followed in his Dad’s steps enjoying a full military career with the Royal Air Force. Arthur and Floss spent 70 years happily married and sadly Floss died in 2012. Arthur, a native of Kent, relocated to Northern Ireland in 2015 to live with his son.

In November 2018, he gave a helping hand to Blesma Member Bryan Phillips’s fundraising campaign to mark the centenary of the end of World War One by laying a wreath at Greyabbey Church War Memorial.

On 8th July 2019, Arthur celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family as well as Bryan and Blesma Outreach Officer Fiona Morrison at Mullaghboy Nursing Home in Donaghadee. He also celebrated with a Blesma themed birthday cake!

Arthur is survived by his son Keith, grandchildren James and Jessica and great-grandchildren, Jake and Jethro.