Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private H. Blake, 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, on which date the Battalion suffered over 400 casualties

1914-15 Star (15835 Pte. H Blake. R. Berks: R.); British War and Victory Medals (15835 Pte. H Blake. R. Berks. R.) light contact marks, very fine and better (3) £300-£400

Henry Blake attested for the Royal Berkshire Regiment and served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 24 February 1915. He was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July 1916. On this date the Battalion, as part of the 25th Brigade, 8th Division, was involved in the attack on Ovillers. Very early in the assault the leading waves met tremendous machine gun and rifle fire, and by 9:00 a.m. over half the battalion had been lost, with the battalion suffering total casualties that day of 437.

Blake was amongst those killed; he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.