Name
Arthur Blackaby
5/07/1877
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/05/1915
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Cheshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 19 - 22.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the fallen in Belgium.
UK & Other Memorials
Much Hadham Village Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham, Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham, Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross, St Thomas' Mission Hall, Green Tye, St Thomas' Church Memorial, Perry Green, Not on the Hoddesdon memorials, Nor on the Sawbridgeworth memorials
Pre War
Born on 5 Jul 1877 in Sawbridgeworth and christened on 12 Aug 1877 in High Wych son of Charles and Mary (Fish) Blackaby and was living in Buckler’s Cottages, Perry Breen in 1891.
He married Edith Brace in 1906 in Bedford and they lived at 22 Briscoe Road, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.
By 1911 he had already joined the army and was Sergeant then Colour Serjeant in 2nd Bedfordshires and then 5172, C.Q.M.S. 2nd Bedford Regiment
Wartime Service
Formerly 5172, C.Q.M.S. 2nd Bedford Regiment.
He went to the front on 6th October 1914, on board the S.S. Winifredian and was later commissioned in the Cheshire Regiment, but did not survive to take up his post as he was killed in action near Ypres.
The 2nd Bedfordshire War Diary Extract 17th May 1915: 2.30am, orders received to withdraw Battalion to reserve trenches. Movement completed by 3.45am. 1.30pm Battalion received orders to be ready at short notice. (Map ref: Illies-Violaine - Festubert). 3pm, moved Battalion to rear of old German Fire trench, in order to make attack in conjunction with 4 Cameron Highs. 2nd Bedf. R were detailed as the two leading Coys. About 7.30pm "B" and "C" Coys advanced to the attack, on the right of the 4th Cameron's, with 2 sections of bomb throwers. On vacating the trenches to the assault were met by heavy shrapnel, machine gun and rifle fire. Acting Coy S.M. was killed as he climbed over the parapet.
On 22 May official information was received that this N.C.O. had been granted a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 2nd Cheshire Regiment. (This was Arthur).
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum)
