Sgt David Blakey : Burial 8 October 2015

[MelPack]

This soldier was the second set of remains found during the road widening scheme at Thiepval some six months ago:

The full story:

Sergeant David Harkness Blakey from Felling in Gateshead died on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916

British chaplain taking the names of wounded soldiers 1916 World War One Battle of the Somme

Human remains discovered buried in France are believed to be those of a Tyneside soldier who died in the Battle of the Somme.

Sergeant David Harkness Blakey was one of 2,208 men from the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers who were killed or injured on the first day of the First World War’s bloodiest offensive.

But his body was never returned to his family in Gateshead, and instead lay undisturbed for 97 years until discovered during a road widening scheme near Thiepval, in the Picardy region of Northern France.

“When the remains of British service personnel are discovered on historic battlefields, the Ministry of Defence attempts to identify any living relatives so that they can be involved in the subsequent re-interment and memorial service,” a spokesman for the MOD said.

“We are currently searching for any surviving relatives of Sergeant David Harkness Blakey, of the 11th Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who died on July 1 1916 in the Battle of the Somme.”

Born in Felling, Gateshead, in 1890, Sgt Blakey - who’s remains were identified by the dog tags he wore - was one of four children of Isabella and Henry Blakey, a coal miner. He had one brother, Robert and two sisters, Mary and Jane.

Before enlisting in the army he worked as a hewer in the pits and was a member of the Durham Miners’ Trade Union, living in Felling and Blaydon.

David and his wife Sarah had two children, Henry - who in a tragic turn followed his father into the army, only to be killed in action at Dunkirk on June 6 1940 - and Vivien Winifred.

The sergeants of the 11th Battalion The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Bramshot in 1915. Could this photo contain the image Sgt David Blakey, from Felling, Tyneside, who’s body has been found 98 years after his death in France

He signed up during army recruitment drives in Gateshead in 1914, being promoted to lance corporal on March 1 1915, then quickly on to full corporal.

It is not known when he was promoted to sergeant, but it is possible he is pictured somewhere within this image of 11th Battalion sergeants held by the Inniskillings Museum in Northern Ireland.

He left for France on October 5 1915 and, following his death, was in December 1916 posthumously awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.

“The 9th 10th and 11th Battalions of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers were part of the 36th (Ulster) Division along with battalions from the Royal Irish Rifles and Royal Irish Fusiliers and were based on the front between Thiepval and Beaumont–Hamel,” said Ruth Evans, from the Iniskillings Museum.

“The Division achieved its objectives during the Battle of the Somme - few others did - and reached the third German trench line.

“This was at great cost, but the units on either side failed, with the result that the Division was left exposed to fierce German counter attacks from three sides, and had to retreat back to its trenches.

“At the end of the July 1 of the 4,000 Inniskillings, some 2,208 men were casualties. No other regiment suffered a higher casualty on a single day in any other battle.”

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/search-relatives-gateshead-ww1-soldier-7039322

Mel

[RussT]

Thank you for posting

If I may - perhaps I missed it - is there some relevance behind the first photo? It shows a man with RE lapel insignia?

Regards

Russ

[MelPack]

Russ

No relevance at all - just a stock photograph for padding.

Mel

[rob elliott]

Mel,

Can't help with Sgt Blakey, but the man sitting on the extreme left of those on the front row of chairs, with his hands over the shoulders of the man on the floor, is CSM George Williams, killed on the 1st July.

George was the fiancé of my grandfathers sister. He was from Donegal, living in Londonderry when he enlisted, being an ex-regular. Although he was killed and my great aunt later married a serving soldier after the war, she kept the locket George gave her with his photo in, before he left for France, this is now with her family in Australia.

It should not be too difficult to find Sgt Blakey's family if there are any left. Ancestry will get the necessary B.D.M s'.

Rob

[MelPack]

Rob

That is a fascinating family story that you have there and actually link it to a soldier in the photograph.

I think that a relative of Sgt Blakey has already come forward - the reason for posting the story was simply to make others aware that a positive ID had been successfully obtained from the dog tags found with the remains.

Mel

[Seadog]

That is great news of course and a big well done to all those involved in reaching this conclusion, perhaps the two soldiers found in Albert may be as fortunate time no doubt will tell..

Norman

[bruce]

Since we now know who one of the men was, can we expect a fairly swift burial, with relatives present?

Or are we going to have to wait years, as is usually the case?

I suppose one date for a burial would be July 1st, 2016, but attention might be elsewhere that day.

Bruce

[tharkin56]

do you have any other named men in the 11th Bn photo, wonder if any are letterkenny, co. donegal men

[Seadog]

Since we now know who one of the men was, can we expect a fairly swift burial, with relatives present?

Or are we going to have to wait years, as is usually the case?

I suppose one date for a burial would be July 1st, 2016, but attention might be elsewhere that day.

Bruce

A very reasonable concern Bruce given the past and sadly still current situation. The MOD have pledged to expedite burial within 18 months of the discovery of all remains so in the worse case scenario that will be some time in 2015 mind you there are over 50 sets of remains still awaiting burial and this includes the BL-15 scheduled for October this year, this is in my opinion a truly shameful situation.

Norman

[MelPack]

I have amended the Title of the thread as notification of the burial:

Burial of 18634 Sergeant David Harkness BLAKEY MM, 9 November 1889 - 1 July 1916

01 October 2015

Sergeant D H Blakey's remains were found in November 2013 during a road-widening project near Thiepval. Amongst the artefacts discovered were a Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers cap badge and Sergeant Blakey's ID tag.

The burial will take place on Thursday 8 October 2015 at 1100 hrs. The service will be conducted by the Revd Robert J Birnie CF, Chaplain to 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment. It will be attended by representatives of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Regiment, UK Defence Staff and local dignitaries. The burial has been arranged by the Ministry of Defence JCCC Commemorations' Team with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission organising grave preparation and headstone manufacture and installation.

http://www.cwgc.org/news-events/news/2015/10/burial-of-18634-sergeant-david-harkness-blakey-mm,-9-november-1889-1-july-1916.aspx

[MelPack]

A bit of a forage on the internet and this is a photograph and a little biography of the man below:

Born at Crow Hall Cottages, on Sunderland Road in Felling, Gateshead, in November 1889, David Harkness Blakey was the son of a coal miner, and one of at least 11 children from his father’s two marriages.

Educated at Low Fell Board School and Gateshead Higher Grade School, David moved to Winlaton with the family in 1907, becoming a miner at the Stargate Colliery, between his home village and Ryton.

In October 1908 he married Sarah “Sally” Kendall at St Paul’s Church in Winlaton, and the couple would go on to have three children - Royal Artilleryman Henry, who died at Dunkirk in June 1940, Vivian Winifred, and Isabella.

A keen sportsman, David played rugby for Winlaton Vulcans, was capped eight times for Durham County, and in the months before the war signed as a professional for Leeds Rugby League FC.

But he also had a strong sense of duty to his country and served with the Blaydon territorial army unit from 1909 until his enlistment in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in January 1915.

On July 1 - the first day of the Battle of the Somme - David was killed as the 36th (Ulster) Division advanced between Thiepval and Beaumont–Hamel, with his body seemingly lost.

[Seadog]

It would have been good for the CWGC to have actually included in their notice the name of the war cemetery where this man is to be buried, a bit of an oversight would you think? (A polite way of putting it).

Norman

[J Banning]

Also to be buried that day at Connaught Cemetery are two unknown soldiers. See http://www.cwgc.org/news-events/news/2015/9/burial-of-unidentified-ww1-soldiers.aspx

One of these, the Royal Irish Rifles soldier, was recovered by two archaeologists from the La Boisselle Study Group after a call for assistance from the CWGC. We were working at La Boisselle at that time.

Sadly we only found out about Thursday's burial service today after I sent an email to the CWGC. As such, with little notice, some of those involved in the recovery process are unable to attend.

JB

[trenchtrotter]

The other set of remains were recovered from a spoil tip. An enthusiast followed a lorry full of earth from the road works at Thiepval and recovered the body plus insignia to Cambridgeshire Regt.

TT

[ianw]

Sadly we only found out about Thursday's burial service today after I sent an email to the CWGC. As such, with little notice, some of those involved in the recovery process are unable to attend.

JB

That is very annoying indeed. Why not a bit more thought from the CWGC and the JCCC?

[stevem49]

It would have been good for the CWGC to have actually included in their notice the name of the war cemetery where this man is to be buried, a bit of an oversight would you think? (A polite way of putting it).

Norman

I think you will find that on the CWGC front page, it gives all of the info you need including cemetery.

I was extremely lucky to attend a talk given by Paul Bird and if you saw his passion for the finding, looking after, researching (DNA etc) and finally making sure the men get a proper burial, maybe you would not keep whingeing.

SM

[glosterman]

I have amended the Title of the thread as notification of the burial:

Burial of 18634 Sergeant David Harkness BLAKEY MM, 9 November 1889 - 1 July 1916

01 October 2015

Sergeant D H Blakey's remains were found in November 2013 during a road-widening project near Thiepval. Amongst the artefacts discovered were a Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers cap badge and Sergeant Blakey's ID tag.

The burial will take place on Thursday 8 October 2015 at 1100 hrs. The service will be conducted by the Revd Robert J Birnie CF, Chaplain to 1st Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment. It will be attended by representatives of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, the Royal Irish Regiment, UK Defence Staff and local dignitaries. The burial has been arranged by the Ministry of Defence JCCC Commemorations' Team with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission organising grave preparation and headstone manufacture and installation.

http://www.cwgc.org/news-events/news/2015/10/burial-of-18634-sergeant-david-harkness-blakey-mm,-9-november-1889-1-july-1916.aspx

Coverage of funeral, including short video (via second link)

http://www.itv.com/news/2015-10-08/british-first-world-war-hero-to-be-buried-almost-100-years-after-death-at-somme/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1220040/Emotional-relatives-Sgt-David-Blakey-attend-France-burial.html

Kevin

[sueburden]

Wiping away the tears. RIP

Sue

[J Banning]

That is very annoying indeed. Why not a bit more thought from the CWGC and the JCCC?

I quite agree Ian. I made my thoughts pretty clear to the relevant person at the CWGC. Archaeologists have a duty of care that extends way beyond the recovery process. To neglect to inform the specialists that the CWGC had sought help from is a poor show. Luckily, one of those who did the recovery work was able to attend. Sadly though, with the limited notice, no one else from the team was available. Here are some photos of the burial from the archaeologist involved: https://twitter.com/LaBoisselleProj/status/652579229985603584

I popped by the cemetery yesterday and, other than the copious wreaths and the fact that the headstones look new, the graves looked like they had been there for ages - all borders, planting etc. done.

JB

[ianw]

We do these ceremonies so well. I can't understand the apparent reticence to announce them proudly and well in advance to allow the maximum possible attendance.

[Steve7]

A few shots of mine from the reburials on the 8th October:- https://picasaweb.google.com/117855867194506993549/ReburialOfSgtBlakeyMMAndTwoUnknownSoldiers?authkey=Gv1sRgCIaC3Lz3kJquUQ&feat=directlink/

[ianw]

A few shots of mine from the reburials on the 8th October:- https://picasaweb.google.com/117855867194506993549/ReburialOfSgtBlakeyAndTwoUnknownSoldiers?authkey=Gv1sRgCIaC3Lz3kJquUQ&feat=directlink/

Many thanks Steve. Very nice images.

Was it yourself who did the flight over the cemetery?

[Steve7]

Many thanks Steve. Very nice images.

Was it yourself who did the flight over the cemetery?

Thanks. Yes I flew over Connaught Cemetery that evening in a microlight.

[ulsterlad2]

Great photos Steve. Thanks for sharing them.

[Steve7]

Great photos Steve. Thanks for sharing them.

Ta!