Arthur Thomas Blake

[machin]

I wonder if anyone has come across the name Arthur Thomas Blake of the 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh Fusiliers?

Also I would be very interested to know the details of where this Battalion was during the war.

[alpoole1]

I wonder if anyone has come across the name Arthur Thomas Blake of the 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh Fusiliers?

Also I would be very interested to know the details of where this Battalion was during the war.

Hi Tim

The 1st Bn served in France & Flanders and Italy. Is there any particular timeframe that your interested in?

Regards

[Muerrisch]

two Blakes served with 1st RWF in time to gain the 1914 star. neither were AT.

[sotonmate]

Machin

1 RWF was part of 22 Brigade 7 Division. You can see what that Division got up to:

http://www.1914-1918.net/7div.htm

There area also War Diaries at the National Archives Kew:

WO95/1665 covers period October 1914 to November 1917,and,

WO95/4226 covers period December 1917 to January 1919.

Best wishes

Sotonmate

[machin]

Hi Tim

The 1st Bn served in France & Flanders and Italy. Is there any particular timeframe that your interested in?

Regards

Thanks for the reply.

I am interested in the period august 1916 to july 1918 when he seems to go into the machine gun corps. He was a 2nd Lt and then Lt.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Tim

[Stebie9173]

Tim,

Email on the other subject sent! (Finally)

Steve.

[alpoole1]

Thanks for the reply.

I am interested in the period august 1916 to july 1918 when he seems to go into the machine gun corps. He was a 2nd Lt and then Lt.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Tim

Hi Tim,

Thats a BIG timeframe, I will mark both ends of the period for you, so that you have a start and finish point.

August 1916: On the 21st July 1916, the 1st Bn were relieved on the Somme, they went initially to La Chaussee until the 12th August, then on to Dernancourt, and back into line on the 26th August at Montauban. Where they then launched an attack on Delville Wood.

July 1918: On Nov 18 1917 the 1st Bn left Abbeville for Italy. They spent the spring and summer of 1918 north of Vicenza carrying out raids against the Austrian positions on the Asiago plateau.

Your man is not mentioned in regimental records. Although it may be worth checking against the 1st Bn's war diaries, which I think has already been suggested, I'm sure portions are now available online. I will happily check regimental records against specific periods that you identify as being of interest.

Best wishes

[Stebie9173]

Not sure what you need on general dates and movements, Tim.

London Gazette 26-8-1916

INFANTRY.

The undermentioned cadets to be temp. 2nd Lts. (on prob.) : —

5 Aug. 1916.

R.W. Fus.

Arthur Thomas Blake.

London Gazette 23-8-1918

MACHINE GUN CORPS (INFANTRY).

The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. 2nd Lts.: —

A. T. Blake, from [R.W. Fus. (attd.). 19 July 1918, with seniority 5 Aug. 1916.

LG 30-11-1918

MACHINE GUN CORPS (INFANTRY).

The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. Lts.: —

A. T. Blake. 5 Feb. 1918.

It seems you have got the above info...

Steve.

[machin]

Hi Tim

The 1st Bn served in France & Flanders and Italy. Is there any particular timeframe that your interested in?

Regards

Yes please.

Italy 1917-18

[alpoole1]

Yes please.

Italy 1917-18

Hi Tim,

The 1st Bn entrained on the 17th November as part of 7 Div, with the first trains into Legnago arriving on the 22nd Nov. From that period until April they moved base frequently, with a short uneventful period in the line 2nd - 10th Feb, and even started to head back to France, until the withdrawal order was rescinded. Finally on the 30th March 1918, they relieved the 12th Durham Light Infantry at Ghelpac on the Asiago Plateau.

The Division was to remain there until August 1918, 4000 ft above sea level. It must have been a very cold mountainous area in which to fight. Records mention that when they went into line, snow was on the ground, and equipment included Alpenstocks and Icegrips.

The first raid was mounted by the Bn on the 7th April, 2 small groups from D Company raided enemy trenches near Ambrosini, inflicting 17 en dead or wounded, and 1 prisoner taken. two slight casualties on their own side. That must have been quite a morale booster.

Regimental Records states that information during this period is megre, it is known that the 1st Bn had a cherished reputation of conducting trench raids, a skill they had honed back in 1914, and it is unlikely that they would have allowed a month to go by without conducting further raids, especially after their initial success.

However the tables were turned on the 3rd May when A Company(my old Company :-) )were spotted by the enemy, raiding the same area. They were still in the preparatory stage, on route to the FRV, when they sustained 8 killed, 12 wounded and 2 missing as a result of heavy machine gun and rifle fire.

On the 4th May the Bn moved initially into billets at S. Dona, and remained out of line until the 24th June, where they relieved the 5th Warwicks at Busibollo, then onto the Cesuna Switch to carry out defensive position repairs and improvements.

Regimental Records state that July was peaceful.

I'm sorry Tim that I have no more real detail at this stage, though I suspect that all the raids conducted by the Bn are not covered in Regimental Records, but may be in the war diary. I hope to obtain a full copy of the 1st Bn's War Diary in the next few weeks, and may be able to plug some gaps then. Its also likely that if your man was involved in any of the raids he may get a mention. The initial raid was conducted by Capt Anthony and 2nd Lt LC Phillips.

Perhaps one of the other members has access to the diary and can assist.

Best Wishes

[machin]

Hi Tim,

The 1st Bn entrained on the 17th November as part of 7 Div, with the first trains into Legnago arriving on the 22nd Nov. From that period until April they moved base frequently, with a short uneventful period in the line 2nd - 10th Feb, and even started to head back to France, until the withdrawal order was rescinded. Finally on the 30th March 1918, they relieved the 12th Durham Light Infantry at Ghelpac on the Asiago Plateau.

The Division was to remain there until August 1918, 4000 ft above sea level. It must have been a very cold mountainous area in which to fight. Records mention that when they went into line, snow was on the ground, and equipment included Alpenstocks and Icegrips.

The first raid was mounted by the Bn on the 7th April, 2 small groups from D Company raided enemy trenches near Ambrosini, inflicting 17 en dead or wounded, and 1 prisoner taken. two slight casualties on their own side. That must have been quite a morale booster.

Regimental Records states that information during this period is megre, it is known that the 1st Bn had a cherished reputation of conducting trench raids, a skill they had honed back in 1914, and it is unlikely that they would have allowed a month to go by without conducting further raids, especially after their initial success.

However the tables were turned on the 3rd May when A Company(my old Company :-) )were spotted by the enemy, raiding the same area. They were still in the preparatory stage, on route to the FRV, when they sustained 8 killed, 12 wounded and 2 missing as a result of heavy machine gun and rifle fire.

On the 4th May the Bn moved initially into billets at S. Dona, and remained out of line until the 24th June, where they relieved the 5th Warwicks at Busibollo, then onto the Cesuna Switch to carry out defensive position repairs and improvements.

Regimental Records state that July was peaceful.

I'm sorry Tim that I have no more real detail at this stage, though I suspect that all the raids conducted by the Bn are not covered in Regimental Records, but may be in the war diary. I hope to obtain a full copy of the 1st Bn's War Diary in the next few weeks, and may be able to plug some gaps then. Its also likely that if your man was involved in any of the raids he may get a mention. The initial raid was conducted by Capt Anthony and 2nd Lt LC Phillips.

Perhaps one of the other members has access to the diary and can assist.

Best Wishes

Thanks so much! It already gives a real feel for what that front was like.

Tim

[Guest mac765]

Arthur Thomas Blake, my paternal Uncle. Born Lavernock, Glamorgan, Wales 1895, Died Hereford General Hospital 1967. Buried at St James Church, Wyesham, Monmouth. Served as a soldier in WW 1 on the Western Front and he told me with the Italian " Alpini" in northern Italy. He said that the Italian soldiers defending their own country were very brave. He added that I should go to Italy as it was the most beautiful place that he had seen. During WW 2 he was in Military Counter Intelligence and served in Northern Ireland. I think he was a Captain. He qualified as a Mining Engineer. Also farmed at Newbridge, Monmouthshire and owned a Tyre Depot in Penarth Road, Cardiff.

Regards

Nigel Blake

[Guest M444TTB]

Arthur Thomas Blake, my paternal Uncle. Born Lavernock, Glamorgan, Wales 1895, Died Hereford General Hospital 1967. Buried at St James Church, Wyesham, Monmouth. Served as a soldier in WW 1 on the Western Front and he told me with the Italian " Alpini" in northern Italy. He said that the Italian soldiers defending their own country were very brave. He added that I should go to Italy as it was the most beautiful place that he had seen. During WW 2 he was in Military Counter Intelligence and served in Northern Ireland. I think he was a Captain. He qualified as a Mining Engineer. Also farmed at Newbridge, Monmouthshire and owned a Tyre Depot in Penarth Road, Cardiff.

Regards

Nigel Blake

Hi Nigel. I think you must be my Dad's (Philip Boulton) cousin as he was the unfortunate boy that found Arthur Blake dead under the kitchen table (although officially declared at the hospital). Apparently he had a vicious dog that was very sedate that day. Very interesting to know more of his war history. I gather he had kept a few live momentos that required very careful disposal on his death!

[Guest mac765]

Hello Matt, Contact me at macanleigh@yahoo.com