Son of John and Rebecca Bromley, of 30, Manchester St., London, W.1 Assistant Native Commissioner, Northern Rhodesia. Served in the Natal Native Rebellion, 1906, and the South African Campaign. Educated at Hinwick House School, Wellingborough, and at the King's School Canterbury from January 1898 to July 1900, where he won his sports colours in 1900. He was known at school as being a clever caricaturist. On the 13th of April 1901 he joined the Natal Mounted Police and saw action in the South African War where he was awarded the King's Medal. He also saw action during the Natal Native Rebellion in 1906 under General Dartnell. He was an expert in Zulu and other native languages and was Native Commissioner of Police, serving with the British South African Police Force in Northern Rhodesia when war broke out in 1914. He returned to the UK on board the SS "Llandovery Castle", landing at Plymouth on the 13th of November 1914 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Reserve Cavalry Regiment on the 25th of November 1914. He transferred to the Royal Field Artillery, with the rank of Captain in May 1915 and embarked for service in France on the 21st of December 1915. He was promoted to Major in February 1917 and in March 1917 he was posted to command 17th Battery, 141st Brigade Royal Field Artillery.
LG Sup 25 April 1918 pg. 4987 - "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He assisted in getting wounded out of a dugout which had been blown in, under intense shell fire, and helped them to the dressing station. When an ammunition dump was set on fire, he put it out under heavy shell fire. When a dug-out, containing 15 men, was blown in, though himself wounded, he worked for an hour and a half rescuing them under intense shelling. He showed splendid courage and coolness."