Name
Alfred Blakie
11 November 1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/01/1918
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
211207
Royal Field Artillery
33rd Div. Ammunition Col.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
XXVI. DD. 4A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor,
We are not aware of any memorial in Westwick Row
Pre War
Alfred Blakie was born on 11 November 1884 in Islington, Middx, the son of Thomas and Jane Blakie and one of six children. He was baptised on 7 December 1884 at Holy Trinity Church, Islington and attended the White Lion Street School from 15 January 1888.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 85 Ritchings Avenue, Walthamstow, Essex where his father was working as a bookbinder and board cutter. By 1901 They had moved to 13 Brunswick Street, Islington when 16 year old Alfred was working as a van guard.
His mother died in 1907 and on the 1911 Census he was living with his widowed father and sisters Charlotte and Louise at 13 Brunswick Street, Barnesbury, Islington. where he was working as a Builder's Labourer.
He married Ellen Annie Smith on 18 August 1912 at All Saints, Battle Bridge, Islington at which time he gave his occupation as 'Floor Layer'. They moved into 15 Gerrard Street, in London and had a child Thomas Alfred James born on 23 February 1913 and baptised on 23 March 1913 at St Peter, Islington. They had two further children, Albert born April 1915 and Alfred born August 1917.
They had moved to Hemel Hempstead and were living at 86 St John's Road, Boxmoor when he enlisted in Hertford in 1916.
His widow's address was later given as 32 Puller Road, Boxmoor and she remarried to Henry Fountain in 1920 and lived in Westwick Row, Leverstock Green.
Wartime Service
He was called up in1916 and enlisted in Hertford with the Royal Field Artillery. After basic training he was sent to France in the summer of 1917 to join the 33rd Division Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery, as a Gunner.
He died in the field at Poperinghe from the effects of gas poisoning on 2 January 1918. The pension card records his death as a rupture of the thoracic aneurism aggravated by active service.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs. E. Fountain (formerly Blakie), of 3, Westwick Row, Liverstock Green, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: “EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS”.
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £7 8s 7d. She also received a pension of £1 9s 7d a week for herself and the children.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson
