2nd, Battn. Northamptonshire Regt., only _s._ of Arthur Edward
Blacker, L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S., by his wife, Harriet Sophia Williams,
dau. of the late Henry Robbins Dew, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Assistant
Staff Surgeon to Lord Raglan in the Crimean War, and gdson. of the
late George Frederick Blacker, of Midsomer Norton, M.R.C.S., L.S.A.;
_b._ Bristol, 13 July, 1893; educ. Bristol Grammar School, was
at the outbreak of war about to commence his medical studies, but at
once applied for a commission and was gazetted to the Northamptons
from the Bristol O.T.C., 28 Oct. 1914. He went to the Front, 30 March,
and was killed in action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge, 9 May, 1915;
_unm._ He was at first reported missing, but later his body was
recovered and buried near an orchard about 300 yards south-west of the
junction of Rue Petillon and the road from Sailly to Fromelles. The
delay in recovering his body was due to the fact that the spot where he
fell was in the open near the enemy’s lines, and was fiercely contested
for many days. All the five officers in his company were killed on
the same day, and most of the men were either killed or wounded by
maxim gun fire in what his commanding officer described as: “a very
gallant attempt to close with the enemy.” 2nd Lieut. G. F. Friendship,
writing on behalf of the commanding officer to Dr. Blacker, said that:
“Blacker with his Coy. took part in an attack we made on the German
lines. As the Northamptons attacked, they were met by a perfect hail
of bullets, machine and rifle fire. Nothing could live in it, and I am
sorry to say, we lost a big number of men and officers. Your son acted
most gallantly and was seen, before he was hit, shouting to his men to
come on”; and Lieut. H. W. Carritt, one of the very few officers who
came safely through that terrible charge, states that Lieut. Blacker
led his platoon bravely, choosing the dangerous flank, and sending
his sergt. to lead that which was less perilous. He died close to the
enemy’s position in a brave attempt to lead his men over what proved
practically insurmountable obstacles.”
[Illustration: =George F. Blacker.=]
=BLACKER, WALTER=, Shipwright, 1st Class, 345996, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=BLACKETT, WILLIAM STEWART BURDETT=, of Arbigland, co. Dumfries,
and Manton Grange, Oakham, co. Rutland, Capt., Leicestershire Yeomanry,
late Grenadier Guards, eldest _s._ of the late Capt. Archibald
Campbell Steuart Blackett, R.N., by his wife, Clara Blanche Harriet,
eldest dau. of Lieut.-Col. Charles Sedley Burdett, Coldstream Guards,
and nephew and heir of Christopher Edward Blackett, of Arbigland, J.P.,
Lieut.-Col. 26th and 93rd Regts. and Coldstream Guards [a cadet of the
family of Blackett, of Wylam, co. Northumberland]; _b._ London,
24 Oct. 1873; educ. Wellington and Sandhurst; joined the 3rd Grenadier
Guards 8 May, 1895, becoming Lieut. 12 Feb. 1898, and Capt. 1901. He
served through the South African War, 1899–1902, in the 8th Division
under General Rundle, was present at the Battle of Biddulphsberg, and
received the Queen’s medal with two clasps and the King’s with two
clasps. He retired in 1903, but on the outbreak of war joined the
Leicestershire Yeomanry, and was gazetted 15 Aug. 1914. He went to
France with the Expeditionary Force, was wounded in action near Ypres
on 20 Nov. 1914, and died in a French hospital at Poperinghe 24 Nov.
following, and was buried there. He _m._ at Staplestown Church,
Carlow, 6 April, 1907, Kathleen Prudence Eirene (Arbigland, Dumfries),
dau. of Beauchamp Frederick Bagenal, of Benekerry House, co. Carlow,
D.L., and had a son, Christopher William Stewart Blackett, now of
Arbigland, _b._ 27 April, 1908.
[Illustration: =William S. B. Blackett.=]
=BLACKLAY, FRANCIS PETTICREW=, Private, No. 21065, 16th Battn.
(Canadian Scottish), Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of James
Blacklay, of 13, Marlborough Street, Londonderry, Managing Director
of William Thompson & Co., Ltd., Londonderry; _b._ Londonderry,
5 May, 1893; educ. Foyle College there; and on leaving there went to
Canada and entered the employ of the Canadian Bank of Commerce at
Winnipeg, being later transferred to Longham and Delisle, Sask. This
he left in April, 1915, to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
He was killed in action, 26 Oct. 1915, while on duty round a German
battleplane which had fallen in the British lines, and was buried near
Wulverghem; _unm._
=BLACKLEY, JOHN=, L.-Corpl., No. 657, 3rd Battn. The Royal Scots,
_s._ of the late William Blackley, Shiprigger, by his wife,
Phyllis, dau. of Robert Muir, Gardener; _b._ Edinburgh, 5 April,
1887; educ. London Road National School there; enlisted about 1906,
and was killed in action at Wolverehem, 11 Sept. 1914. He _m._ at
Leith, 15 Feb. 1909, Mary Ellen, 4th dau. of Andrew Dalziell, and had
two children: John, _b._ 9 June, 1913; and Anna, _b._ 12 Oct.
1911.
=BLACKMAN, JOHN THOMAS=, Private, No. 258, Princess Patricia’s
L.I., Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late John
Blackman, Sergt., 33rd West Riding Regt., by his wife, Mary (5, Best
Town, Cage Lane, Chatham), dau. of Patrick Lyons; _b._ Lucknow,
India, 11 April, 1881; educated Chatham; enlisted in the Grenadier
Guards, and after serving five years went to Canada, 4 April, 1910, and
on the outbreak of war volunteered for Imperial service. He was killed
in action at Hill 60, 4 May, 1915; _unm._
=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.
[Illustration: =Thomas Blackman.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Louis Charles Blake.=]
=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.”
[Illustration: =Sidney Barclay Blair.=]
=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._
[Illustration: =Rev. P. J. T. Blakeway.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Christopher Blanchett.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Charles E. W. Bland.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Charles E. Blanford.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Philip Arthur Blanshard.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Gerald Wynter Blathwayt.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Harvey Blease.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =John Blees.=]
=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.
[Illustration: =Eric Bligh.=]