MAJOR E. A. C. BLAKE
2ND BATTALION THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY
EDWARD ALGERNON CLEADER BLAKE was the younger son of Edward Frederick Blake, of Shanklin, Isle of Wight.
He entered the School in 1886 and left in 1887. He received his Commission in the 1st Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in 1893, was promoted Lieutenant in 1896, and Captain in 1900. He served through the South African War, from 1899 to 1902, as Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith as well as in the actions of Colenso and Spion Kop. He was severely wounded at Vaal Krantz, was mentioned in Despatches and received the rank of Brevet- Major. He held the Queen’s Medal with two Clasps and the King’s Medal with two.
He went to France with the First Expeditionary Force, and took part in the Retreat from Mons and the Battles of the Marne and of the Aisne. Later, in the defence of the village of Ennetières, near Lille, the Colonel of the Sherwood Foresters asked for the help of two Platoons of the Durhams, as his Regiment was being heavily shelled. Major Blake gallantly took them and arrived in time to drive back a strong attack. The trenches being full, he took up his position in, and defended, a sugar factory, on which a shell burst, killing him and many men. He fell on October 20th, 1914. Age 43.
Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1