Major William BLAKE D.C.M. was only visiting...and had to stay forever
MAJOR
W.D. BLAKE D.C.M.
IMPERIAL CAMEL CORPS
DIED 19-1-1933
AGED 68.
William Daniel BLAKE [1]
Block 1C RSA Plot 7
Years in NZ at time of death: 5 months [1]
Occupation: retired [1]
OBITUARY:
The death occurred last evening at Christchurch of Major William Daniel Blake, D.C.M., a brother of Deputy -Superintendent C. J. Blake, of the Christchurch Central Fire Brigade. During 20 years of army service Major Blake served in the 17th Lancers in India and later in the Egyptian Cavalry. During this time, he served under Kitchener in the Sudan, being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. For 25 years he was chief of the Cairo Fire Brigade, which he organised under the control of the police and military authorities During the Great War Major Blake was transferred from the Fire Brigade to organise the Camel Transport Corps for the Scottish Lowland Division in the Palestine campaign. After being engaged for 19 months at this his health failed, and he was forced to retire.
Major Blake came to New Zealand on a holiday trip five months ago and during that time was in bad health. He died under an operation.
Among the other decorations Major Blake had were the Order of the Nile, the Order of the Meiji, the Victory Medal, and the Police and Fire Brigade Medal for special service. He leaves a grown-up family abroad.[2]
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND Freemason membership. [4]
Date of initiation: 1893 September 3
Passing: October 15
Rising: Mar 4
Age: 29
Residence: Cairo
Profession: [S.S] Major 17 Lancers
Certificate: 22.8.93
1892: 7/6
PROBATE:
“…of 243 Ware-road Hertford Hertfordshire died 19 January 1933 art the Lewisham Hospital Christchurch New Zealand Probate London 2 May to Irene Norah Webb-Purkis (wife of George Richard Webb-Purkis) and Henry Norris builder. Effects £299 7s.” [3]
SOURCES:
[1]
Christchurch City Council online cemeteries database;
heritage.christchurchcitylibraries.com/Cemeteries/interme...
[2]
Press, Volume LXIX, ISSUE 20759, 20 January 1933; Paperspast portal via National Library of New Zealand website;
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19330120.2.95?ite...
[3]
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1995; Ancestry.co.uk.
[4]
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND Freemason membership registers, 1751-1921; ancestry.co.uk
Major William BLAKE D.C.M. was only visiting...and had to stay forever
MAJOR
W.D. BLAKE D.C.M.
IMPERIAL CAMEL CORPS
DIED 19-1-1933
AGED 68.
William Daniel BLAKE [1]
Block 1C RSA Plot 7
Years in NZ at time of death: 5 months [1]
Occupation: retired [1]
OBITUARY:
The death occurred last evening at Christchurch of Major William Daniel Blake, D.C.M., a brother of Deputy -Superintendent C. J. Blake, of the Christchurch Central Fire Brigade. During 20 years of army service Major Blake served in the 17th Lancers in India and later in the Egyptian Cavalry. During this time, he served under Kitchener in the Sudan, being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. For 25 years he was chief of the Cairo Fire Brigade, which he organised under the control of the police and military authorities During the Great War Major Blake was transferred from the Fire Brigade to organise the Camel Transport Corps for the Scottish Lowland Division in the Palestine campaign. After being engaged for 19 months at this his health failed, and he was forced to retire.
Major Blake came to New Zealand on a holiday trip five months ago and during that time was in bad health. He died under an operation.
Among the other decorations Major Blake had were the Order of the Nile, the Order of the Meiji, the Victory Medal, and the Police and Fire Brigade Medal for special service. He leaves a grown-up family abroad.[2]
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND Freemason membership. [4]
Date of initiation: 1893 September 3
Passing: October 15
Rising: Mar 4
Age: 29
Residence: Cairo
Profession: [S.S] Major 17 Lancers
Certificate: 22.8.93
1892: 7/6
PROBATE:
“…of 243 Ware-road Hertford Hertfordshire died 19 January 1933 art the Lewisham Hospital Christchurch New Zealand Probate London 2 May to Irene Norah Webb-Purkis (wife of George Richard Webb-Purkis) and Henry Norris builder. Effects £299 7s.” [3]
SOURCES:
[1]
Christchurch City Council online cemeteries database;
heritage.christchurchcitylibraries.com/Cemeteries/interme...
[2]
Press, Volume LXIX, ISSUE 20759, 20 January 1933; Paperspast portal via National Library of New Zealand website;
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19330120.2.95?ite...
[3]
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1995; Ancestry.co.uk.
[4]
UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND Freemason membership registers, 1751-1921; ancestry.co.uk