=BLACKBURN, JOSEPH EDWARD=, Leading Seaman, 226195, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BLACKER, CECIL FRANCIS=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Connaught Rangers, yr. _s._ of Major Frederick Henry Blacker, late 4th Queen’s Own Hussars, by his wife, Anna, dau. of Sir Joseph Bazalgette, C.B.; _b._ ...; educ. May Place, Malvern Wells, and Wellington College, Berks (Purnell’s 1903–06); was at the R.M.C. 1908, entered the Army, Nov. 1909, gazetted Lieut. Jan. 1911, being 2nd in command of the Brigade Cyclist Corps when he went to the Front. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Mons, 23 Aug. 1914, and died at Netley Hospital, 6 Sept. following; he was buried at Maudins, Naas; _unm._
=BLACKER, GEORGE FREDERICK=, 2nd Lieut., 3rd, attached “A” Coy. 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.