A Sheffield war hero, described as “the bravest of the brave” has been remembered with a public service to commemorate his rare gallantry, WRITES ALASTAIR ULKE AND EMILY HAWTIN.
Sergeant Arnold Loosemore, from Sharrow, was awarded both the Victoria Cross and Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions during the First World War, a very rare combination. Not only did he rescue a wounded comrade while under heavy fire, he also singlehandedly fought off and killed 20 enemy soldiers during the same counterattack.
His life was remembered on Wednesday (April 11) at a service marking 100 years to the day since his passing, held at All Saints Church in Ecclesall, Sheffield.
Assistant minister, Godfrey Smallman of All Saints Church said: "He was a son of Sheffield.
“This is an opportunity for us to honour someone who is buried here in the graveyard and gave great service, who died young, and who was a man of courage."
The Victoria Cross is Britain’s highest military decoration, with recipients revered as heroes and their deeds becoming military legend.
Sergeant Loosemore’s incredible act of bravery that earned him the medal was carried out in 1917 amid the Third Battle of Ypres, near Langemarck in Belgium.
After two members of his section were killed beside him, he fought on with every means at his disposal - machine-gun, bomb, rifle and revolver. He successfully repelled a fierce counter attack, killing about 20 of the enemy, including snipers. And he still had the strength to carry a wounded comrade back to his post under heavy fire.
Just a day earlier, it is said he shot down a German plane engaged in a dogfight with a British aircraft, likely saving the British pilot’s life.
His courage was later recognised again with the Distinguished Conduct Medal following an Allied raid the following year in which a machine gun and 11 prisoners were captured.
Pat Davey, Chairperson of the Sheffield and District Joint Council of Ex-Service Associations said: "If it wasn't for people like Loosemore none of us would be around today.
“We’re honouring a very brave man, he was one of the bravest of the brave, and he lived to fight another day.”
Despite his rare ability to survive danger in a war zone, Sergeant Loosemore succumbed to tuberculosis six years after the war ended, albeit arising from machine gun wounds sustained during combat.
He was buried with full military honours, with crowds lining the procession route from Hillsborough to Ecclesall - which had echoes of the crowd of thousands who gathered to cheer him from the town hall steps after his VC civic reception - and the funeral service conducted by the Lord Bishop of Sheffield.
5. Minute of silence
The service held at All Saints Ecclesall is the third such memorial event to Sgt Loosemoore, who is buried in their graveyard but was only discovered in the 2010s when it was determined his wife Amy buried him in an existing grave with three others to save money. She would be buried with him after her death as well. | National World Photo: National World
6. Remembered 100 years later
The day after receiving his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace in 1918, Sgt Loosemoore was welcomed home to a civic reception in Sheffield by a crowd of 2,000. As the memorial service shows, he is still remembered to this day 100 years later | National World Photo: National World
7. Standard bearers
The standard bearers included members of the Prince of Wales Own Regiment (both of Barnsley and York & Lancaster) and the Royal British Legion. | National World Photo: National World
8. Sgt Loosemoore's grave
The grave of Sgt Arnold Loosemoore, and his wife Amy. All Saints Ecclesall has signposted the way to his grave for visitors and historians to easily find him and pay respects. | National World Photo: National World