Cyril Arthur Blake

A Private with 1/23rd Bn., Cyril died on 16th of September 1916 at the age of 26. 

Cyril was born at Lowestoft in 1889, a son of Arthur James and Elizabeth Mary Blake. In 1891 his family lived at 4 East Raglan Street, Lowestoft, and by 1901 at 4 Stanley Street, Lowestoft. In 1911 they lived at 32 Queen's Street, and Cyril worked as a book compositor. Later his mother lived at 62 The Hemplands, Lowestoft.

Cyril was working as a compositor when he volunteered and joined the Army at Lowestoft on 9 September 1914. Initially he served with the Suffolk Regiment, service number 12653, an was posted to the 9th Battalion on 22 September 1914. On 30 August 1915 he, along with the rest of the 9th Battalion, embarked for France. 

Cyril was admitted to a Field Ambulance on 20 October 1915, suffering from diarrhoea. On 30 October 1915 he was admitted to 17 Casualty Clearing Station for treatment but then had to be evacuated to England, viz Hospital Ship Newhaven, on 3 November 1915. He was admitted to the Metropolitan Hospital, London, suffering from debility and influenza and was later found to have colitis. He was posted to the strength of the Depot on 4 November 1915: this an administrative arrangement. Once recovered, posted to the 10th Battalion on 29 January 1916. 

On 23 June 1916 Cyril was transferred to the 3/23rd Battalion London Regiment, number 6081. He arrived at Havre, France, on 30 June 1916 and was posted to the 16th Battalion London Regiment on 11 July 1916, and joined them in the field on 13 July 1916. He was sent to the Base Depot, Havre, on 23 August 1916 (it is possible that Cyril was sent to the 16th either in error or because of an urgent need for reinforcements and that, later, he was returned to the 23rd). Cyril was posted to the 1/23rd Battalion London Regiment, joining them, in the field, on 3 September 1916, as part of a draft of 37 men.   

On 16 September 1916 the 1/23rd Battalion were involved in an attack at High Wood, in the Somme area. The Battalion War Diary has:

At 8.55 a.m. the leading platoons extended and moved forward over the crest in a line, the other platoons followed at proper distance. The Battalion reached the crest in four waves, followed by bombers in good order, without casualties. East of High Wood they were subjected to heavy barrage fire.
At 10.25 a.m. reports came back that they attack was going well. Battalion was subjected to very heavy machine-gun fire on reaching sunken road. After dark patrols were sent out encountering German posts and patrols and made prisoners, among them an officer. Casualties very heavy, being brought in from sunken road.  

The battalion lost 3 officers and 149 men, including Cyril, killed in action on 16 September.