Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown War Memorial

In Memory of

Corporal John H. Bodmer

47365
26th Divisional Signal Coy., Royal Engineers
Died On 28th August 1915

Corporal Harry Bodmer had just returned to Warminster where his regiment was based from his last furlough before starting for the front when he was involved in a motor accident. On the evening of Thursday 26th August, he was returning from Bath, where he had been on dispatch duty, and was within two miles of the camp, when, in passing a concealed bend in a narrow lane, he collided with a wagonette coming in the opposite direction. He was thrown from his motor cycle. He died from his injuries two days later.

Six members of the Dispatch Riders were granted permission to act as bearers at the funeral at St Peter's in Newton-le-Willows, but owing to the fact that the Division had received orders to be in readiness for active service within a few days, this permission was reluctantly cancelled at the last moment.

Corporal Harry Bodmer is buried in Newton-le-Willows Cemetery.

Corporal Bodmer’s death prompted the publishing of a poem in the Newton and Earlestown Gaurdian. His name, as John Henry Bodmer, is on the first list of recruits under Royal Engineers.