1883. He commenced his education at the Grange (Preparatory) School,

Eastbourne, where he captained the cricket and football teams, and was an immense favourite with the masters and boys alike. He later proceeded to Malvern and entered the College at the time Canon Sidney James came to be Headmaster. There he represented his College in cricket, fives and football. His company also won the College Cup for military drill. In 1902 he was entered at New College, Oxford, and his early promise of being a leading sportsman was fully realised. He represented Oxford in cricket on three successive seasons, and was Captain of the Oxford side in 1906. He was a member of the Middlesex Team, though circumstances prevented him from playing in more than two or three matches during the season. He played for the Gentlemen against the Players, and was asked to represent England in South Africa and Australia. He was an extremely careful and good batsman, but specially excelled as a wicket keeper, and one of the best known captains in England said: “He is the best wicket keeper I ever saw.” After leaving Oxford, where he won for himself many friends, he became a master at Ludgrove. It was here that he spent the last eight years of his life. His record there is a fulfilment of the promise of his early days at Eastbourne and Malvern, and his keenness on everything to do with Ludgrove, and his willingness to put himself out for others, endeared him to masters and boys alike. He was immensely happy there and it was a terrific struggle to answer the call, but he never failed to recognise his duty. A member of the O.T.C., he was gazetted Lieut. to the 6th Battn. of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 29 Dec. 1914, and was afterwards attached to the 2nd Battn. at the Front. He was killed, 9 May, 1915, while gallantly leading his platoon near Richebourg St. Vaast; unm. His Major wrote of him: “Bird was gallantly leading his men when he was shot, and died instantly.” He adds: “Bird was a splendid fellow, and a very promising officer and very popular with officers and men alike. I am more than sorry to lose him.” [Illustration: =Wilfred S. Bird, M.A.=] =BIRRELL, GEORGE HENRY GORDON=, 2nd Lieut., 9th (Dumbartonshire) Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Col. John Birrell, of Allander House, Milngavie, co. Dumbarton, late 9th Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and Army Service Corps (Highland Division), by his wife, Grace Marguerite, dau. of George William Masson Buish, of Salto, B.O.; _b._ Milngavie afsd., 2 Feb. 1893; educ. Loretto, gazetted to his father’s old regt., 3 Nov. 1914, and joined at the Front in Feb. 1915. On 10 May, 1915, during the second Battle of Ypres, the Battn., which formed part of the .. Brigade, received orders to take and hold a line of trenches near Hooge; this they did, but at considerable loss. Lieut. Birrell was killed during the advance, while gallantly leading his platoon under heavy shell fire. He was _unm._, and was buried in Zouave Wood, near Hooge. [Illustration: =George Henry Gordon Birrell.=] =BIRRELL, KENNETH=, Private, No. 11106, 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.), only _s._ of W. Birrell, by his wife, Alsie (10, Merchant Street, Edinburgh), dau. of (--) Reid; _b._ Stockbridge, Edinburgh, 15 Jan. 1895; educ. Glen Street Roman Catholic School there; enlisted 2 April, 1912, and was killed in action during the retreat from Mons, 26 Aug. 1914; _unm._ =BISHOP, ALBERT EDWARD=, Signal Boy, J. 24353, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =BISHOP, CHARLES HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3816), 187061, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =BISHOP, EDWIN MAURICE=, Lieut., 3rd Battn. Dorsetshire Regt., attached King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., elder _s._ of Edwin Bishop, of Gosport and Swanwick, Sugar Merchant, by his wife, Janette (The Lawns, Swanwick, near Southampton), dau. of the late Knowles Richardson, of Littlehampton and Portsmouth; _b._ Gosport, 19 June, 1891; educ. Bradfield College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battn. Dorsetshire Regt., 21 June, 1912, and promoted Lieut. 1 May, 1913. On the outbreak of the European War, he left for the Front, 8 Sept. 1914, being attached to King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., and was killed in action at Illies, France, 18 Oct. 1914; _unm._ His Capt. wrote: “We started attacking yesterday morning at 6.20 a.m., and your son was leading his platoon with the firing line. I heard about mid-day that he had been killed; he was found by one of the other subalterns, and there is no doubt that he was killed instantaneously. We had all got very fond of him in D. Coy. We all feel his loss very deeply. Poor fellow! this was his ‘Baptism of Fire’; he was leading his platoon most gallantly when he was shot”; and Sergt. Beeching: “We started the attack and advanced under a very heavy fire from the enemy till we gained a ridge where we all laid down. Mr. Bishop then rose up on his hands and knees and was in the act of passing a message along the line when he was hit; the bullet had entered his forehead and had come out at the base of his skull”; and Sergt. Spooner spoke of him as: “One who during his short stay with us had won the greatest admiration and respect from his men.” His yr. brother, Private G. S. Bishop, A.S.C., died on active service, 10 April, 1915 (see his notice). [Illustration: =Edwin Maurice Bishop.=] =BISHOP, FREDERICK HENRY=, Leading Seaman, 229715, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BISHOP, GEORGE SPENCER=, Private, No. 31591, 178 Coy Army Service Corps (Motor Transport), yr. and only surviving _s._ of Edwin Bishop, of Gosport and Swanwick, etc. (see previous notice); _b._ Swanwick, 17 Oct. 1892; educ. Bradfield College; learned motor engineering at Adams’ Engineering Works, Bedford; enlisted in the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) in Dec. 1914, trained at Grove Park Barracks and afterwards at Reading, where he died of cerebro-spinal meningitis, after a week’s illness, 10 April, 1915. He was brought home and buried in Sarisbury Churchyard. A brass tablet to his memory was put up in the church by the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of his company. The Major stated that “He was a very smart soldier and much liked by all his Company.” [Illustration: =George Spencer Bishop.=] =BISHOP, JAMES=, A.B., 229797, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914. =BISHOP, WILLIAM=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 10705), 300546, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BISS, FREDERICK ERNEST=, Private, No. 2733, 1/8th Battn. Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Frederick Biss, of 25, Werley Avenue, Dawes Road, Fulham, S.W., by his wife, Emma, dau. of Ernest Roylance; _b._ Shoreditch, 13 May, 1896; educ. Fulham Palace Road Board School; was a Labourer; joined the Territorials about 1911; volunteered for active service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France, 9 March, 1915, and was killed in action in a trench at the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; _unm._ He was buried at Wye Farm, near Loos, with others of his comrades. =BITTEN, FREDERICK=, Officers’ Steward, 3rd Class, L. 4948, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =BLACK, CUTHBERT THOMAS=, A.B., 224922, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BLACK, FRANK HENRY=, Capt., 4th. attached 1st. Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., elder _s._ of Francis Black, of Fairview, Great North Road, Finchley, R.B.A., A.R.C.A., Hon. Sec. of the Royal Society of British Artists, late Principal of the L.C.C. Camden School of Art, etc., by his wife, Annie Beatrice, dau. of the late John Smith, of the firm of John Smith, Ltd., 131, London Wall, and grandson of the late Horatio Black, of Nottingham; _b._ London, 1 Dec. 1887; educ. City of London School, and in Paris; joined the Artists’ Rifles as private in 1907, afterwards accepting a commission (20 Jan. 1912) which he resigned in June, 1914, owing to business pressure. On the outbreak of the war he volunteered, and there being no vacancy in his old Coy (A) of the Artists he accepted a commission in the 4th Battn. of the Royal Warwickshire Regt., 18 Aug. 1914. He was afterwards attached to the 1st Battn., being sent to it in France in Sept. After some weeks at the base, St. Nazaire, they went up to the firing line in Flanders, arriving on 26 Oct. He spent the whole winter in the trenches. He was promoted Lieut. 1 Nov. 1914, and Capt 1 Jan. 1915, and was killed in action at St. Julien, 25 April, 1915, during the 2nd Battle of Ypres; _unm._ His commanding officer, Col. A. J. Poole, wrote: “He was killed on 25 April gallantly leading his men against the German trenches. He was the greatest favourite with us all, and all our sympathy goes out to you in your sad bereavement. Personally, I feel I have lost a great friend, and one that I shall never be able to replace as one of my officers. Unfortunately, we have been unable to recover his body at present, but will make every endeavour to do so”; and Private H. Roberts, writing from hospital, said: “On Sunday, 25 April, about 4 a.m., Capt. Black gave the order to advance and take the lines of trenches in front of us. We had advanced the biggest part of the ground under heavy fire, when the Capt. was shot through the head. It was impossible for any of us to render him any aid, as death was instantaneous. I daresay you will have read that he was posted wounded and missing, but I am sorry to say he was killed, as I was only a few yards away from him when it happened. The reason the Capt. was posted missing was because he was so near the enemy’s trenches when he fell. Capt. Black was one of our most popular officers, and his death was deeply felt amongst the boys of the Coy. with whom he was a great favourite.” Capt. Black held the Challenge Cup for highest efficiency for one year, and gained a number of silver spoons for shooting, and was very popular with his Coy. He was a member of the School of Arms, and took a great interest in A Coy.’s camp at Datchet in 1912, 1913, and 1914, being one of the chief movers in the formation of that club. [Illustration: =Frank Henry Black.=] =BLACK, HENRY=, Private, No. 10008, 1st Battn. Scots Guards; _b._ Mid Calder, Edinburgh; volunteered and enlisted 1 Sept. 1914, aged 25; reported missing after the fighting on 25 Jan. 1915. =BLACK, JAMES WILLIAM McKAY=, Private, No. 2089, 1/5th Battn. Royal Scots, elder _s._ of John Black, of 15, Mertoun Place, Edinburgh, Blacksmith, by his wife, Christina, dau. of William McKay; _b._ Edinburgh, 15 Sept. 1883; educ. Gillespie’s School there; served his apprenticeship as an engineer in Edinburgh; on 18 Jan. 1909, was appointed an assistant in Edinburgh Weights and Measures Department; passed the Board of Trade Examination held in Glasgow on the 15–16 Nov. 1911; commenced his duties as an Inspector of Weights and Measures 16 Feb. 1912; appointed an officer under the Petroleum Acts, the Explosive Act and the Fabric Misdescription Act, 16 May, 1914; enlisted on the outbreak of the war, 29 Aug. 1914; and was reported killed in action in Gallipoli, 28 April, 1915; _unm._ [Illustration: =James William McKay Black.=] =BLACK, ROBERT=, L.-Corpl., No. 12109, 2nd Battn. Highland Light Infantry; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; reported wounded and missing 24 Oct. 1914, and now assumed to have been killed in action on that day. =BLACK, THOMAS=, Private, No. 10674, 1st Battn. The Royal Scots, 2nd _s._ of the late Thomas Black, Calender Worker, and formerly a Private in the Black Watch, by his wife, Agnes (5, Ramsey Street, Dundee), dau. of Jack Fields; _b._ Dundee, 23 Sept. 1892; educ. Mitchel Street Public School there; was for some time employed as a rope spinner in Messrs. Halket & Adams’ Rope Works, Dundee, and enlisted in the Royal Scots, 7 June, 1910. He was drafted to the 1st Battn. in India, and on the outbreak of the European War came home with his regt. and was killed in action in France, 12 May, 1915; _unm._ [Illustration: =Pte. Thomas Black.=] =BLACK, WALTER CAIRNS=, L.-Corpl., No. 2164, 14th Battn. (London Scottish) London Regt., _s._ of James Black, Bookbinder’s Manager; _b._ Edinburgh, 10 June, 1888; educ. Daniel Stewart’s College, Edinburgh; joined on mobilisation 4 Aug. 1914, was promoted L.-Corpl. for tending wounded under fire and general good conduct in the field, and was killed in action at Givenchy, 22 Dec. 1914; _unm._ Black was by profession a chemist and druggist, qualifying at Edinburgh, 1910; was for some time assistant to Mr. H. Dixon, of Russell Gardens, S.W., and later joined the staff of Messrs. Allen and Hanbury, of Lombard Street. =BLACK, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 11521, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards, _s._ of James Black, of 12, Wilkies Lane, Dundee; _b._ Aberdeen; volunteered and enlisted 4 Oct. 1914, aged 19; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; reported missing, 18 May, 1915. =BLACK, WILLIAM=, Sergt., No 11302, 2nd Battn. Highland L.I., 4th _s._ of Jeremiah Black, by his wife, Matilda, dau. of Joseph Lowry; _b._ Craigywarren, Ballymena, co. Antrim, Ireland, 28 Jan. 1890; educ. Craigywarren National School; enlisted in April, 1909, promoted Sergt., Nov. 1914, served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action on the Rossitier Road in the Village of Zonnebeke, five or six miles from Ypres, 14 Nov. 1914; _unm._ [Illustration: =Sergt. William Black.=] =BLACK, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 22764, 11th Battn. The Royal Scots, 2nd _s._ of George Black, of Buckhaven, by his wife, Helen, dau. of Adam Addison; _b._ Howtown, co. Clackmannan; educ. Cowdenbeath, Fife; was a miner; enlisted 9 May, 1915, and was killed in action near St. Julien, 15 Oct. 1915, by the explosion of a mine under the trench where he was on sentry duty. He _m._ at Buckhaven, Fife, 1 Jan. 1908, Isabella Gordon (Randolph Street, Buckhaven), dau. of George Cargill, and had three children: George Gordon, _b._ 22 Feb. 1909; William, _b._ 26 March, 1915; and Mary Keddie, _b._ 6 Aug. 1911. =BLACKBURN, EDWARD=, Private, No. 12548, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards; _b._ York; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Richebourg, 12 March, 1915; _m._ =BLACKBURN, HORACE=, Private, No. 8393, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards, _s._ of (--) Blackburn, of 5, Sheridan Street, Wakefield Road, Bradford; _b._ Bradford; enlisted 31 Aug. 1912, aged 21; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; reported wounded and missing, 20 Oct. 1914. =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. [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,