Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Bloxam a fish dealer, born 1851 in Leicester, and his wife Elizabeth Betsy Harper (Harford) Bloxam (nee Cooper, married in the 4th quarter of 1869 in the Leicester district), born 1852 in Leicester. William Eaton was born in the 3rd quarter of 1886 in Leicester, his siblings were Joseph Henry, born 1873, Alice Matilda, born 1875, Sarah Ann, born 1878, Elizabeth, born 1882 and Henry, born 1890, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 49, Waring Street, Leicester. In March 1901 William was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at Bradgate Road, Anstey, Leicestershire, together with his father, a shoe trade riveter, his mother and siblings, Sarah, a tailor’s machinist, Elizabeth, a shoe trade machinist and Henry. In April 1911William was absent from the family home at Bradgate Road, Anstey, residing there was his father, a boot and shoe trade heel builder and presser, his mother and brother Harry, a shoe trade heel scourer, also residing in the family home was William’s niece Dorothy Cicely Pratt, born 1906 in Cropston, Leicestershire, William was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing as a boarder at 50, Sylvan Street, Leicester.
William attested into the Militia to serve an engagement of 6 years on the 26th January 1903 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as St. Peter’s, Leicester, his age as 17 years and 7 months and his trade or calling as shoe hand, his present employer being, Messrs. Pickett, Shoe Manufacturer, Anstey, Leicestershire. He gave his current home address as Bradgate Road, Anstey, Leicestershire and confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father William Bloxam, his mother Elizabeth Bloxam, his younger brother Harry Bloxam, his older sisters, Sarah Ann Bloxam, Elizabeth Bloxam and Alice Venable, all of Bradgate Road, Anstey as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4¼ inches in height, weighed 116 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 33½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was dark brown, and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had tattoo spots on his arm, left forearm and hand. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Militia on the 26th January 1903 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8487 on the 26/1/03. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (Militia) and commenced 49 days drill training on the 26/1/03 – 15/3/03. Discharged by purchase on the 11/2/04.
The War Diary records: 14 May-15 - Intermittent shelling by enemy, all weights, during day. Then moved to redoubt LANSDOWNE POST during evening. All settled by 10.00pm.
On Saturday June 5th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – Mr. W. Bloxam, of Bradgate Road, Anstey, has received a notification that his son, Corporal Wm. Bloxam, 2nd Leicesters, was killed in France, three weeks ago.
On Friday June 18th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” –MORE CASUALTIES AMONG YEOMANRY. - The following list of casualties in the Leicestershire Yeomanry and Leicestershire Regiment reported from the base under date 30th May, was issued from the War Office on Tuesday:-
KILLED.
LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY.
Clifford, 1938, Private P., Hansen, 2278, Private H. R., Moir, 1732, Lance Corporal L. J., Moore, 1678, Private D., Parker, 1478, Lance Sergeant J., Ward, 2327, Private B.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
1st Battalion.
Killinger, 5616, Private J.
2nd Battalion.
Abrahams, 5560, Private J. E., Alderman, 8551, Private A., Bates, 8027, Private T., Bloxam, 12571, Private W., Brown, 9952, Private E., Claydon, 8086, Corporal G., Dowling, 10285, Private A., Fletcher, 7598, Sergeant W., Fray, 9784, Private E., Houston, 9031, Private J., Johnson, 9545, Private A. E., Laxton, 8900, Lance Corporal W., Mawby, 8305, Drummer W., Mercer, 11579, Private U. J., Reveille, 9491, Private R., Richardson, 9087, Private H., Sanders, 9224, Lance Corporal T., Slater, 8331, Private H., Smith, 9199, Lance Corporal H., Toms, 9970, Private A., Weston, 10024, Sergeant T.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
2nd Battalion.
Cooper, 12306, Private F., Hughes, 8017, Private J., Mills, 8318, Private G. A., Moore, 8835, Private A., Murphy, 5859, Lance Corporal E., Upton, 9671, Private P. W.