[1] Bassom joined the Royal Marine Artillery as a gunner at the age of 17 and gained the highest possible marks in his gunnery examinations and therefore almost certain promotion.

He was posted to "D" Division (Marylebone), and the following year was transferred to the Public Carriage Office at Scotland Yard, where he spent the rest of his career.

At the PCO his hard work, encyclopaedic memory and innate understanding of traffic problems led to rapid promotion.

It was said that he could visualise any part of the 700 square miles of the Metropolitan Police District and give an analysis of its traffic problems and possible solutions.

[3] He was awarded the King's Police Medal (KPM) in 1919 and appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours.