2nd Lt
Edward William Richmond Blake

Information about birth

Year of birth:
1897
Place of birth:
Crewkerne, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

General information

Profession:
Student

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Service number:
/
Units:
 —  Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry), 4th Bn. attd. 8th Bn.  (Attached)

Information about death

Date of death:
31/07/1917
Place of death:
Beek Wood, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
20

Memorial

Distinctions and medals 2

British War Medal
Medal — 15/04/1921
Victory Medal
Medal — 15/04/1921

Points of interest 1

#1 Place of birth

My story

Second Lieutenant Edward William Richmond Blake served in the Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry), 4th Battalion. On the 2nd of June 1917 he joined “D” Company of the Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry), 8th Battalion, part of the 63rd Brigade, of the 37th Division. He was attached to this unit, as this Battalion was to take part in the Battle of Pilckem, the opening stage of the Third Battle of Ypres.

The 37th Division attacked with the 63rd Brigade on the 31st of July 1917. It advanced from the vicinity of Oosttaverne towards the Ypres–Comines Canal. The attack was mostly a feint attack. Its aim was to compel the Germans to disperse his resources on a larger front.

At 3.50 a.m., zero hour, the 4th Middlesex and a company of the 8th Lincolns, advanced to the line July Farm-Rifle Farm. Four hours later, at 7.50 a.m. the second phase of the attack was launched with the 8th Lincolns and the 8th Somersets. “D” Company of the 8th Somersets had to clear Beek Wood. This was in fact a cluster of enclosures. “D” Company was cooperating with two companies of the 8th Lincolns on the left and “A” and “C” Company on their right. “A” Company soon reached the Western outskirts of Beek Wood and dug in. In the meanwhile two platoons of “D” Company were sent forward to clear the Beek Wood area from German defenders. The Somersets encountered heavy resistance in the enclosures and at 1.50 a.m. it was reported that the remainder of the two platoons were pulling back and that 2nd Lieutenant Blake had been killed while trying to clear Beek Wood. Posts were established at the Northwestern and Southwestern corners of the enclosures. Blake’s platoon had suffered heavy casualties in Beek Wood and many wounded couldn’t be evacuated.

The Germans saw an opportunity to counterattack the battered Somersets and by 8 p.m. Germans were seen massing to the East of the enclosures. However they were soon dispersed with help of the artillery. Under the cover of darkness the units consolidated their positions at night.

Second Lieutenant Edward William Richmond Blake was killed in action on the 31st of July 1917. His remains were never identified, possibly because he was left behind in the enclosures, as his platoon was forced to withdraw. The frontlines in the area remained static for the greater part of the offensive and Beek Wood would remain in German hands. Second Lieutenant Edward William Richmond Blake is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. He was 20 years old.

Files 1

Sources 3

8 Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2529/2).
https://nationalarchives.gov.uk
Further reference
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the Day-by-Day Account (Londen, Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018), pg. 20-21.
Sources used
Wyrall E., The Somerset Light Infantry 1914-1919 The History of The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) 1914-1919 (London, Methuen & co. LTD, 1927), pg. 194-197.
Sources used

More information 3