John Oscar Bloom | Canadian Cultural History About The Spanish Civil War

Alternate name(s):

Jean; Blum; Asselson; Alms; Orville; Oselson; Orville

Nickname:

Red

Date of Birth:

circa 1913

Hometown(s):

Edmonton, Alberta

Political affiliation:

Young Communist League, 1933; Communist Party of Canada, 1933

Prior military experience:

Militia, possibly Calgary Regiment

Approximate date arrived in Spain:

1937-02-16

Unit:

Abraham Lincoln Battalion

Final status:

KIA 6 July 1937 at Brunete in the first assault out of the trenches

Other:

A description of Bloom's death appears in The Book of the XV Brigade:

The Canadians, although hardly more than a Section in strength at Brunete, proved themselves worthy of their traditions. The Mackenzie-Papineau Section of the Lincoln-Washington Battalion soon became known among the men as the Fighting Canucks.

The terrain over which the Section attacked at Villanueva de la Cañada was raked by fire. John Oscar Bloom, 24 year old volunteer from Edmonton dashed first into the attack shouting: "Come on, Mackenzie-Papineau!", and was killed instantaneously. (148)

Sources:

Americans and Canadians Killed in Spain Complete list to Nov. 15, 1937; List of Canadian Casualties in Spain MG30 E173 Vol.1 File 13; Hoar; Momryk; Petrou; The Book of the XV Brigade; Hoff