Part 20

=BLACKMAN, THOMAS=, Sapper, No. 1544, Royal Engineers, eldest _s._ of William James Blackman, of 86, Church Street, Ore, Painter; _b._ Hastings, co. Sussex, 23 Nov. 1873; was a Painter; enlisted, 13 Oct. 1914; went to the Front, 22 Dec. 1914, and was killed in action, 5 March, 1915. His Capt. wrote: “He was carrying out last night some dangerous work in front of our trenches and was hit by a stray bullet.” He _m._ 1st, at Ore, Hastings, Laura (died 12 July, 1910), dau. of William Holewell, labourer; and 2ndly, at the same place, 7 Oct. 1911, Philly Jane (60, Fairlight Road, Ore, Hastings), dau. of William Mepham, Naval Pensioner, and had three children by his 1st wife: Thomas William, _b._ 24 May, 1907; Rose, _b._ 2 July, 1908; and Laura, _b._ 20 Feb. 1910.

=BLACKSTONE, WILLIAM=, Seaman, R.N.R., 3700A, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BLAKE, AUGUSTUS EDWARD=, C.P.O. (R.F.R., A. 2043), 153991, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BLAKE, HENRY=, Private, No. 1835, 118th Battn. Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of David Blake, of Grange View, Chalfont St. Peters, by his wife, Maria, dau. of James Butcher; _b._ Chalfont St. Peters, co. Bucks, 2 May, 1892; educ. National School there; joined the 8th Middlesex Territorials, Sept. 1912; mobilised 5 Aug. 1914, and volunteered for foreign service; served at Gibraltar, 3 Sept. 1914, to Feb. 1915, and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 8 March, to 26 April, 1915, on which date he was killed in action at Zonnebeke during the second Battle of Ypres; _unm._

=BLAKE, JOHN EDWARD=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2641), 205973, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BLAKE, LOUIS CHARLES=, Private, No. 27168, B Coy., 15th Battn. (48th Highlanders) Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Harry George Blake, of 689, Ontario Street, Toronto, Canada, Gasfitter, by his wife, Louisa, dau. of Charles Henry Stiling, of Walworth; _b._ Camberwell, London, 22 Jan. 1888; went to Canada with his parents when one year old in 1889; educ. Sackville Street Public School, Toronto, and was a Fourth Book Scholar. He served with the 12th York Rangers from 7 June, 1904, to 18 May, 1912, when he obtained his discharge with an excellent character. He then served for a short time with the A.S.C., and joined the 48th Highlanders in 1913, and on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, was one of the first to volunteer for service overseas. He left with the first contingent in Oct. 1914; trained on Salisbury Plain during the winter; went to the Front in Feb. 1915, and served continuously until 5 Dec. 1915, when he was killed in action at 10.5 p.m. at King Edward Terrace (Ration Farm), France, by a high explosive shell. He was buried there; _unm._ His brothers, Corpl. Edward Blake, 19th Battn., and Private Harry Blake, 74th Battn., are now (1916) on active service.

=BLAIR, SIDNEY BARCLAY=, 2nd Lieut., 3rd, attd. 2nd, Battn., Royal Warwickshire Regt., 3rd _s._ of John Blair, of Bidston House, Wigan, J.P., M.D., by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of F.... Love, of The Priory, Grosmont, co. York; _b._ Wigan, 20 Aug. 1885; educ. Wigan and Warminster Grammar Schools, and Giggleswick School, where he won his colours and became a corpl. in the O.T.C. He matriculated at Liverpool University in 1913, and passed his first professional examination in medicine shortly after the outbreak of war. Volunteering, he was gazetted to the 3rd Battn. of the Warwickshire Regt., 19 Nov. 1914, and on going to France in March was transferred to 2nd Battn. He was killed in action at Festubert by a shell between the 1st and 2nd line German trenches, whilst leading his platoon, 16 May, 1915, and was buried at Le Touchet; _unm._ His colonel wrote: “He died gallantly leading his platoon attacking the Germans, 16 May.” His Adjutant: “I always found him so willing and always ready to be of service. His loss will be greatly felt in the regt.” His Capt.: “Your son belonged to my company, and he was killed between the 1st and 2nd line German trenches. His platoon was the first of the battn. to attack, and he led them most gallantly.”

=BLAKEWAY, COL. THE REV. PHILIP JOHN THOMAS, M.A., T.D.=, Chaplain, 4th London Mounted Brigade, 2nd Mounted Division, and Vicar of Walberton, Arundel, _s._ of Philip Edward Blakeway, of 29, Clifton Gardens, Folkestone, by his wife, Maria, dau. of John Wootton; _b._ London, -- March, 1865; educ. Malvern, and Magdalen College, Oxford, and on leaving the latter in 1884 received a commission in the 8th Hussars and joined the regt. in India. After six years he sent in his papers, went back to Magdalen College, Oxford, and took his degree and was ordained Deacon in 1891 and priest in 1893. After holding curacies at Camberwell, Lambeth and Battersea, he was for seven years Chaplain to the Earl of Lathom, and in 1902 became temporary Chaplain to the Forces at Chichester Barracks. In 1903 he was appointed to the rectory of All Saints’, Hastings, and in 1907 to the Vicarage of Walberton. Since 1893 he had been Chaplain to the Middlesex Hussars (1st County of London), and when war broke out he applied to go to the Front, and was appointed 1st Class Chaplain with the rank of Colonel. He went out to Egypt with one of the first drafts of troops, and died on active service at Ismailia, 16 June, 1915, of heart failure. He _m._ at Old Windsor, 10 Aug. 1893, Sibyl Agnes (The Cottage, Halnaker, Chichester), dau. of Francis Ricardo, of The Friary, Old Windsor, and 44, Portman Square, W., J.P.; _s.p._

=BLAKEY, GEORGE HENRY=, A.B., J. 7104 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BLANCHETT, CHRISTOPHER=, Sergt., No. 18159, 3rd Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Frederick Blanchett, of Whitehill Cottage, Wootton Bassett, by his wife, Mary, dau. of James Curry, of North Curry, co. Somerset; _b._ Wootton Bassett, co. Wilts, ....; educ. Council School there; enlisted in the Wiltshire Regt.; served through the South African war, afterwards going to Canada in April, 1913. After the outbreak of war he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Ducks’ Bill, France, 19 June, 1915. He _m._ at Wootton Bassett, 11 April, 1903, Mildred Ellen, dau. of William Sainsbury, of Wootton Bassett, and had a son and two daus.: Stuart, _b._ 19 Jan. 1912; Zita Mary Asenatte, _b._ 2 May, 1907; and Mildred Christina, _b._ 22 May, 1909.

=BLAND, CHARLES ERNEST WILLIAM, D.S.O.=, Capt., 3rd, attd. 2nd, Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, _s._ of Horatio Bland, of Stretton House, near Alfreton, co. Derby, Capt. (ret.) King’s Own Scottish Borderers, by his wife, Fanny Louisa (Stretton House, Alfreton, Derbyshire), dau. of William Henry Duff; _b._ New Wandsworth, co. Surrey, 21 Aug. 1881; educ. Marlborough and Sandhurst; joined the Scottish Borderers, 20 Jan. 1900, served in the Boer War, and was present at the actions at Vet River and Zand River, those near Johannesburg and Pretoria, and at Zillikats Nek (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two clasps); became Capt. 9 March, 1908, and retired 26 Oct. 1910, being gazetted to the 3rd (Reserve) battn. of his regt. On the outbreak of war he rejoined, was attached to the 2nd battn. with which he went to the Front, was twice mentioned in despatches by F.M. Sir John French, and awarded the D.S.O. 18 Feb. 1915, and was killed in the action around Ypres, 23 April, 1915. He is believed to have been buried near Pilkem. Major D’Ewes Coke wrote: “The actual event which gained him the D.S.O. was when we were holding trenches in front of Ypres in Nov. His trench was several times attacked by Prussian infantry, as well as being subjected to very heavy fire from minewerfers and artillery, but he stuck to it and defended his trench with great bravery.” He _m._ at the Parish Church, Maynooth, co. Kildare, Ireland, 22 Oct. 1910, Isabella, dau. of William Browne-Lecky, of Ecclesville, co. Tyrone, and had a dau.--Patricia, _b._ 24 April, the day after her father was killed. Capt. Bland was well known in the hunting field, and was frequently out with the Cottesmore and Belvoir packs.

=BLAND, PERCY=, Junior Sick Berth Reserve Attendant, M. 8633, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BLANDFORD, GEORGE JOHN=, Chief Armourer, No. Ch. 340800, R.N., _s._ of Martin Blandford, Leading Stoker on the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert; _b._ Ewer Common, Gosport, 18 Sept. 1876; educ. Alverstoke School; was for many years at the Chatham Gunnery School; joined the Cressy on the outbreak of war, and was lost with that ship 22 Sept. 1914; _unm._ He had the Good Conduct medal.

=BLANDFORD, HENRY=, Private, No. 2253, 8th Battn. Middlesex Regt. (T.F.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died of wounds, 9 Sept. 1915.

=BLANDFORD, THOMAS HENRY=, Private, No. 9247, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Thomas Henry Blandford, of 19a Skelbrook Street, Earlsfield, S.W.; _b._ co. Surrey; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Boiseron, 8 Sept. 1914; _unm._

=BLANFORD, CHARLES EDWARD=, Major, R.G.A., 30th Indian Mountain Battery, 3rd _s._ of Thomas Blanford, of 4, The Grove, Highgate, N., by his wife, Amy, dau. of Frederick Simpson; _b._ Kensington, W., 16 March, 1874; educ. Highgate School and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (Sept. 1891–93); gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.A., 1 Jan. 1894, promoted Lieut. 1 Jan. 1897, Capt. 9 April 1900, and Major--Oct. 1914; joined at Portsmouth, and after nine months there and at Gordon Hill, Isle of Wight, went out to India in Oct. 1894, and was attached to a heavy battery at Ferozepore. He served in India for 21 years with the exception of the period of the South African War, when he was given ordnance work at Kimberley (Queen’s medal with clasp) and for a short time (six weeks) at Spike Island, Ireland, before going to Kimberley; died of wounds received the same day, 11 July, 1915, near Nasiriyeh in the Persian Gulf, while commanding a section of the battery on rafts. His commanding officer wrote: “He has been such a tower of strength to me that I cannot say it often enough. Always ready for work and never complaining. He has had several hard tasks and carried them through most successfully.... The State has indeed lost a gallant and invaluable officer whose continual watchword was Duty.” A comrade wrote: “It is an irreparable loss to us, and his place will not be easy to fill; he was always ready to do anything, but what I have always admired most about him has been his pluck, courage and indifference to danger.” He _m._ at Eastbourne, 24 Sept. 1912, Vida May (28, Milnthorpe Road, Eastbourne), dau. of Albert Henry Trenchard, of Eastbourne, and had a son, Edward Oliver Trenchard, _b._ Thandiani, near Abbottabad, N.W.F.P., India, 4 Sept. 1913.

=BLANK, WILLIAM JOHN HENRY=, E.R.A., 1st Class, 268654, H.M.S. Monmouth; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914; _m._

=BLANSHARD, PHILIP ARTHUR=, Private, No. 11466, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 4th _s._ of Henry Brand Blanshard, of 4, Finsbury Grove, Fountain Road, Hull, by his wife, Alice, dau. of the late George Hurdman of Hull, hairdresser; _b._ Hull, 18 Sept. 1894; educ. Park Road Board School there; was in the employ of the Hull Corporation (Sanitary Dept.), enlisted 4 Sept. 1914; left England for the Front, 21 Jan. 1915 and died in the 1st Field Hospital, at 3.30 p.m. 2 Feb. following, of shell wounds received in action at Cuinchy near La Bassée. He was buried in Bethune Town Cemetery.

=BLATCHFORD, ALBERT=, Acting Leading Stoker, (Dev.), K. 10989, _s._ of Joseph Blatchford, of 2, Weslet Terrace, Ipplepen, near Newton Abbot; lost in action when H.M.S. Goliath, was sunk at the Dardanelles, 13 May, 1915.

=BLATCHFORD, ALBERT GEORGE=, Shipwright, 1 Ch. 170876, H.M.S. Formidable; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the English Channel, 1 Jan., 1915; _m._

=BLATHERWICK, HENRY THOMPSON=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26731 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=BLATHWAYT, GERALD WYNTER=, Capt., Royal Field Artillery, yr. _s._ of Arthur Pennington Blathwayt, member of the London Stock Exchange, and of Northwood Grange, R.S.O., Middlesex, by his wife, Mary Constantia, dau. of the late John Thorp, of Maldon, Essex; _b._ Belvedere, Kent, 30 June 1879; educ. Aldenham School, Herts; gazetted 2nd Lieut. from the Kent Artillery Militia, to the Royal Artillery, 22 Dec. 1898, promoted Lieut. 16 Feb. 1901, and Capt. 18 July, 1906. He served in the South African War and received the Queen’s medal with three clasps. From 1906 to 1909 he served as Brigade Adjutant, and from 1910 to Jan. 1914 was Garrison Adjutant, Eastern Command. At the outbreak of war Capt. Blathwayt went with his Battery to France and was in the retreat from Mons to the Marne. He was killed at the Battle of the Aisne, near Verneuill, 14 Sept. 1914, and was buried in the garden of the Chateau there. Major Barker, commanding the battery, in communicating his death wrote: “In him the Army has lost a gallant officer and myself and his other companions in the Brigade a beloved comrade and friend.” While at Woolwich he took an active part in the Garrison cricket and was Hon. Sec. of the club. He was recently elected a member of the “Band of Brothers,” and was member of the Junior United Service Club. He _m._ at St. Stephen’s, Gloucester Road, London, 26 Oct 1911, Margaret Aline (20, The Court Yard, Eltham), younger dau. of the late Charles Pickersgill-Cunliffe, of Cobb Court, Cootham, Sussex, and had two daughters, Madeleine Margaret, _b._ 12 July, 1912, and Elizabeth, _b._ 16 Feb. 1914.

=BLEASE, HARVEY=, Capt., 15th (Service) Battn. The King’s Liverpool Regt., elder _s._ of Walter Blease, F.C.A., of Messrs. Blease & Sons, Chartered Accountants, by his wife, Mary, dau. of the late James Harvey, of Salford; _b._ Liverpool, 29 Aug. 1882; educ. Parkfield School, Liverpool, and Sedbergh, Yorks, and afterwards entered his father’s firm and took great interest in the educational schemes of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. After the declaration of war he applied for a commission and was gazetted Lieut. to the 15th Battn. of the King’s Liverpools, 12 Nov. 1914, and promoted Capt. 15 Jan. 1915. He went out with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and was there attached to the 7th Lancashire Fusiliers. He was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 7 Aug. 1915. Capt. Blease enjoyed a reputation as a batsman while at Sedbergh and later took part in the Old Boys’ annual tours. For fourteen years he was identified with the Sefton Park Club, during eleven of which he was captain, and for whom he gave many brilliant displays in Lancashire and Cheshire cricket. He was also an excellent cross-country runner. He _m._ at Liverpool, 15 Sept. 1910, Dorothy Stanley (Rostherne, Blundellsands, near Liverpool), 2nd dau. of the late Stanley Blease, of Liverpool, and had two children, Helen Margaret, _b._ 12 July, 1911; and Barbara Mary, _b._ 28 June, 1914.

=BLEES, JOHN=, Private, No. 712, Princess Patricia’s Canadian L.I., Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late John Peter Blees, of Jabalpur, India, by his wife, Mary Ann (24, Sandileigh Avenue, Withington, Manchester), dau. of James Bowden; _b._ Jabulpur, Central India, 25 Feb. 1889; educ. Dulwich College; went to Canada in 1900 and settled at Edmonton; on the outbreak of war volunteered and joined Princess Patricia’s L.I.; came over with the first contingent in Oct. 1914; crossed to France in Feb. and died 11 May, 1915, of wounds received in action near Ypres on the 8th; _unm._ One of his officers wrote: “He was wounded in the engagement on 8 May, in which engagement all the officers were either killed or wounded. The regt. endured an extremely heavy bombardment. How severe it was and how gallantly our boys stuck to their trenches and held back the Germans can only be told in the future, when military consideration will not restrict correspondence, suffice it to say that this regt. held out so gallantly and against such odds that Sir John French came down to personally thank the regt. for what they did that day. On that day every man was a hero, but some were conspicuous even here. Your son was helping the wounded out and binding their wounds when he was struck, a shrapnel caught him in the abdomen, but even with this desperate wound he was game and was carried out still cheery and encouraging the boys to stick it.” He was buried in the regimental burial ground at Hazebrouck.

=BLIGH, ERIC=, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn., attached 2nd Battn., the East Lancashire Regt., _s._ of William Bligh, of Caterham Valley, co. Surrey, by his wife, Lilian Josephine, dau. of William Lafone, of Monte Video; _b._ Caterham Valley, 30 Dec. 1894; educ. The Dene, Caterham, Sherborne School, where he was a member of the junior O.T.C. with the rank of Lance-Corpl. and Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he was a private in the senior O.T.C. Medical. After the declaration of war he applied for a commission and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 3rd Battn. of the East Lancashires, 15 Aug. 1914. He joined the 2nd Battn. at the Front, 7 March, 1915, served through the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and was killed in action opposite Fromelles, 9 May, 1915, in the assault on Aubers Ridge. His commanding officer, Major Maclear, wrote: “Your son was shot by a German machine gun whilst leading his platoon in an assault on the German trenches opposite Fromelles on Sunday, 9 May, death being instantaneous. Your son was only with us a short time, but we were all very fond of him, and you have the consolation of knowing that he could not have died a nobler death.” He was promoted Lieut. after his death to rank as from 13 Feb. 1915, and was buried on the road from Sailly to Fromelles.

=BLIGHT, CHARLES=, Corpl., No. 3/5971, 1st Battn. Somerset L.I., _s._ of the late Charles Blight; _b._ London; and was killed in action, 19 Dec. 1914. Prior to the war he was employed as a Collier at the Cambrian Pits, Clydach Vale. He _m._ in Bath (--), and had two sons: Charles and Stanley.

=BLISS, CHARLES=, Major, 2nd Battn. 1st (King George’s Own) Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army, 2nd surviving _s._ of Sir Henry (William) Bliss, of The Abbey, Abingdon, K.C.I.E., J.P., late Indian Civil Service, by his 1st wife, Mary, dau. of Edmund Rendle; _b._ at Dindigul, Madras Presidency, 31 Dec. 1871; educ. Clifton, Heidleberg and Sandhurst; and obtained his first commission in the North Staffordshire Regt., 5 June, 1891; transferred two years later to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.), of which he was promoted Lieut. 4 July, 1896. In the Dec. following he joined the Indian Staff Corps, becoming Capt. 10 July, 1901. After a period with the 43rd (later the 8th) Gurkha Rifles and the Assam Military Police, he was appointed double-company commander of the 1st Gurkha Rifles, 5 Dec. 1908, and obtained his Majority 5 Dec. 1909. In 1903–4 he saw service in Tibet, being present in the action at Niani, and during the operations at and around Gyantse, and in the march on Lhassa, being slightly wounded. His services were mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 13 Dec. 1904], and he received the medal with clasp. Major Bliss commanded various punitive expeditions in the Nagar Hills, on the North-West Frontier, between 1907 and 1911, and from 1911 to 1913 was in command of escorts on several political, survey and exploration missions on the North-West Frontier. He had the Abor, Indian Police and Durbar medals, and in 1914 was made a C.I.E. On the outbreak of the European War he came to Europe with his regt., and died at Lille, 22 Dec. 1914, of wounds received in action at Festubert on the 20th. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 5 April [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915, for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field. Major Bliss _m._ at St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge, 11 April, 1901, Mabel Emmeline, eldest dau. of Col. Thomas M. Maxwell, late Sherwood Foresters, and had a dau., Lorna, _b._ 31 Aug. 1905.

=BLISSETT, WILLIAM HENRY=, Private, No. 18317, 3rd Battn., 1st Infantry Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Edward Blissett, of Bath, Butler, by his wife, Elizabeth (9, Coleman Street, Brighton), dau. of Samuel Wills, of Liss, Hants; _b._ Paddington, 16 Dec. 1885; educ. Gordon Memorial Schools, Diss Board School and Priory Road School, Hastings, and was then apprenticed as a carpenter to Mr. Harvey, King’s Road, St. Leonards. In 1907 he went to Canada, and after a year in Ontario, settled in Alberta, where on the outbreak of war he enlisted. He came over with the 1st Contingent, in Oct. 1914, and after training at Salisbury and Shorncliffe, went to the Front in May and was killed in action in the trenches, 8 Nov. 1915, by a bullet. He was buried in Wulverghem Cemetery; _unm._

=BLOFELD, D’ARCY FRANK=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Life Guards, only _s._ of Frank Blofeld, of Dunster Lodge, Alcombe, West Somerset, by his wife, Leslie Blanche, only dau. of Major Thomas Perkins, R.H.A., H.A.C., of Doverhay Place, Porlock, Somerset; _b._ Dunster Lodge, afsd. 21 April, 1890; educ. St. Michael’s (Mr. Hawtrey), Westgate-on-Sea, and Eton (Mr. E. L. Churchill’s House, 1903–8), where he won the Junior Pulling in his last year. He served three years with the Eton College Volunteers, but ill health prevented his going on to Sandhurst, and he spent several years in the Argentine, where he became interested in the breeding and schooling of polo ponies. He was living at Staverton, near Cheltenham, when war broke out, and immediately joined the Gloucestershire Yeomanry. On 9 Sept. he was gazetted to the 3rd Reserve Regt. of Cavalry, and took up his duties at Canterbury. He was posted to the Household Cavalry on 24 Oct. and joined his regt., the 2nd Life Guards, at Windsor. On 7 Nov. he went to Flanders, and served with his regt. in the trenches, and just before Christmas he came home on seventy-two hours’ leave. His second experience of the trenches was early in Feb., after which he obtained a week’s leave, but was recalled in four days, and from then until his death, near Ypres, on 12 May, he was at the Front. He and four other officers were killed instantaneously by an explosive shell. He had won the liking of his brother officers, and the confidence of his men. Mr. Blofeld was fond of all sport, he was a finished horseman and a most promising polo player. He was a member of the Cheltenham and West Somerset Polo Clubs, his handicap being 5 goals Hurlingham, 1914. He hunted with the Devon and Somerset Staghounds and the West Somerset Fox Hounds since early boyhood, and during the time he was at Staberton, with the Cotswold Hunt. He was greatly beloved by all who knew him and was a fine example of how quickly a good sportsman can become a good soldier. His Col. wrote: “As a horsemaster he was invaluable to me, and the fact that he had been chosen for the duty in which he met his death, proves that his Squadron leader relied on him.”