Julius Sydney Bloom was born in 1892 to Evelyn (née Neustadt) and John Bloom of Paddington, later Randwick. He attended Sydney Grammar School then studied accountancy, to work in his father's finance business. Julius was a member of the Coogee Life Saving Club and Randwick Senior Cadets. He visited England in 1914.

As No. 1817 Private Julius Bloom, he enlisted on 3 July 1915, joining his friends Harold Herman and Godfrey Levy in 2nd Reinforcement of 17th Battalion# and embarked 28 July. During the voyage, Jewish Lt Berrol Mendelsohn (see separate entry) witnessed Julius’ “Conduct contrary to good order and discipline, namely: striking matches in hammock between decks after ‘lights out’.” From Egypt they arrived at Gallipoli on 18 September, a month after the rest of the battalion. It was responsible for the defence of Quinn's Post, one of the most contested places along the Anzac front - both sides digging mines beneath the other’s positions (see attached map of trenches and tunnels; and photo).

On 9 October, at 5th Brigade HQ, Bloom visited Sgt Jack Levy and a cousin, Sgt Julius Neustadt, who wrote*: “Julius [Bloom] looks well, though working pretty hard and is suffering a bit from prickly heat and diarrhoea. He had tea with me and said it was a nice change for him. Fixed him up with a razor and a tin of jam.” Ten days later, Bloom told Neustadt: “The Turks and Australians were interchanging friendly notes and salutations one morning above parapet – one chap interpreting in French. Turks sent over cigarettes and a note saying, ‘Although they were at war with the Australian – yet they were friends.’ They wanted some bully beef as they liked it (which was thrown over to them). Also asked us not to throw the cricket balls (bombs) as they did not like them. They signed themselves, ‘Your comrades in arms, the Turks’.” Neustadt continued to receive mail and visits from other Jewish troops, but he called “Friday 5 Nov. one of the saddest days … Harold Herman (see separate entry) broke the news of the death of Julius Bloom.”

As later reported to the Red Cross: “Near Quinn’s Post, Bloom was … reading a letter he had just received from his mother, when a Turkish mine exploded under the trench. / A large piece of timber fell across Bloom … and he was killed almost immediately. / Bloom was a small, fair, clean-shaven fellow of Jewish parentage, very popular in the company. / His body was subsequently recovered and buried next day in the main cemetery at Anzac. Warrant Officer [Jack] Levy of 5 Brigade H.Q. gave the necessary instructions with regard to the burial service.”

Private Julius Bloom, Killed in Action 5 November 1915, age 23, is buried at Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli - his headstone inscribed with the epitaph:
HE DIED AS HE LIVED DOING HIS DUTY
* Spirits of Gallipoli website by Kim Phillips and Jewish Anzacs book by Mark Dapin

Julius Sydney Bloom was born in 1892 to Evelyn (née Neustadt) and John Bloom of Paddington and Randwick. Like most 13-year-old Jewish boys of Sydney, Julius celebrated his bar mitzvah at the Great Synagogue. He attended Sydney Grammar School and later studied accountancy, taking a position in his father's finance business. Julius was a member of the Alfred Hills Amateur Opera Company and took a passionate interest in music. He was also an active member of the Coogee Life Saving Club, Randwick Senior Cadets and there is evidence he was interested in racing horses. In 1914 Julius visited England, returning to Australia about a month after the start of the Great War.

He enlisted as No. 1817 Private Julius Bloom at Liverpool, NSW, on 3 July 1915 joining his friend Harold Herman, in the 2nd Reinforcement of the 17th Battalion and embarked from Sydney, on HMAT A23 Suffolk on 28 July. Curiously, during the voyage, Jewish Lt Berrol Mendelsohn (see separate entry) witnessed Julius’ “Conduct contrary to good order and discipline, namely: striking matches in hammock between decks after ‘lights out’.” On arrival in Egypt, he was admitted to hospital, where he spent seven days including Yom Kippur, 5 September, with a “heel ulcer.” Julius was discharged in time to embark on HMT Ionian from Alexandria on 11 September to join the main body of the battalion - part of the 5th Brigade of the newly formed 2nd Australian Division - at Gallipoli one week later, then transferred from its D to A Company.

The battalion had only arrived a month previously when it participated in the disastrous attack on Hill 60. For most of the remaining time on the peninsular, it was responsible for the defence of Quinn's Post, one of the most contested positions along the entire ANZAC front, with both sides digging mines beneath each other. On 9 October, Julius Bloom visited his cousin, Julius Neustadt, now a Sergeant at 5th Brigade HQ, who wrote* that Bloom “looks well, though working pretty hard and is suffering a bit from prickly heat and diarrhoea. He had tea with me and said it was a nice change for him. Fixed him up with a razor and a tin of jam.” On Tuesday 19 October, Bloom told him that the “Turks and Australians were interchanging friendly notes and salutations one morning above parapet – one chap interpreting in French. Turks sent over cigarettes and a note saying, ‘Although they were at war with the Australian – yet they were friends.’ They wanted some bully beef as they liked it (which was thrown over to them.) Also asked us not to throw the cricket balls (bombs) as they did not like them. They signed themselves, ‘Your comrades in arms, the Turks’.”

Neustadt continued to receive mail and visits from other Jewish troops at his trench on Gallipoli, including another cousin, Jack Levy, but he called 5th November “one of the saddest days” when Harold Herman (see separate entry) broke the news of Julius Bloom.

As later reported by the Red Cross: “near Quinn’s Post … Bloom was … reading a letter he had just received from his mother, when a Turkish mine exploded under the trench. / A large piece of timber fell across Bloom … and he was killed almost immediately. / Bloom was described … as a small, fair, clean-shaven fellow of Jewish parentage, very popular in the company. / His body was subsequently recovered and was buried next day in the main cemetery at Anzac. Warrant Officer Levy of 6 Brigade H.Q. gave the necessary instructions with regard to the burial service.” The decision to evacuate the Gallipoli peninsular was reached by the British command around this time.

Private Julius Bloom, Killed in Action 5 November 1915, age 23, is buried at Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli - his headstone inscribed with the epitaph:
HE DIED AS HE LIVED DOING HIS DUTY
* Spirits of Gallipoli website by Kim Phillips and Jewish Anzacs book by Mark Dapin