No.269159, Private, Ballantyne Beautymine BLAKE
Aged 41
|
Ballantyne Blake was born in Romford, Essex in 1876 (Romford Q2-1876 4A:177), son of Abel and Ann BLAKE (née TILBURY).
1881 census...Aged 5, he was at Albert Road, Romford with his father Abel BLAKE [34] gardener born Bacton, Suffolk; his mother Annie [31] born Cheam, Surrey; sister Rose [9] and brother Walter [7] both born in Cheam and brother Herbert [3] born Romford. 1891 census...Aged 14, an agricultural labourer, he was at Stow Road, Borley Green, Woolpit with his parents, brother Walter (garden labourer), brother Herbert and grandmother Elizabeth Tilbury. His mother's place of birth is now recorded as Hazelmere, Bucks. 1901 census...Aged 24, single, an assurance agent, he was at 29 Bishops Road, Bury St Edmunds, lodging with Frances Wilson. On 4th May 1905, in Thetford, he married Ada Kate FARROW. 1911 census...Aged 34, a gardener, he was at Manor Cottages, Wall, Lichfield, Staffs with his wife Ada Kate [31] born Thetford and their son Cyril Henry [4] born Coney Weston, Suffolk on 4th January 1907. His parents were at Dunstall Green Farm, Ousden. CWGC records his parents living at Dunstall Green Farm, Ousden and his wife at 88 Wellington Street, Luton. The pension card has his widow Ada at 58 Stuart Street,Luton, with their son Cyril Henry (b. 4-1-1907) No evidence has yet been found to link him with Burrough Green except his name on the memorial. At the time of his death his father was at Bury Road, Wyverstone, Suffolk |
|
He enlisted in the Hertfordshire Regiment (#9082) on 23rd August 1916, giving his age as 40 yrs 4 months, a gardener, living at 58 Stuart Street, Luton.
He was 5 feet 3.5 inches (161.3 cm)tall, chest 36" to 37.5" (91.4 to 95.3 cm), weight 140 lbs (63.7 kg), a Baptist.
Sent to France on 16th December 1916, Transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment, he joined his unit in the field on 7th January 1917 and was given a new regimental number of 269159. Posted missing, he was regarded for official purposes as having died on or since 31st July 1917. His wife was awarded 18s 9d per week for herself and child. Records give his mother as dead, but father was at Bury Road, Wyverstone and his wife had moved to 88 Wellington Street, Luton The battalion spent the first half of 1917 holding the line near Ypres. In July it began training for its next major action, the Third Battle of Ypres. On the opening day, 31 July 1917, 39th Division mounted an advance towards Pilckem Ridge. The 1/1st Hertfordshires were employed in the third phase of the operation. Advancing over the Steenbeek towards the Langemarck Line, the battalion suffered increasingly heavy casualties from enemy machine-gun fire. On reaching the enemy wire it was found to have been undamaged by the artillery bombardment and the battalion was forced to fall back under heavy fire and strong German counter-attacks. Every officer was a casualty, eleven of whom including the commanding officer were killed, while the other ranks suffered 459 casualties. 147 men of the Hertfordshire Regiment died on 31st July 1917, only 26 have identified graves, the rest are named on the Menin Gate memorial in Ypres |
photo:- Commonwealth War Grave Commission
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details