Round Green seen from Hitchin Road [Z1306/75/10/54/1]
Saturday 12th June 1915: Mr and Mrs Blake of 200 Hitchin Road, Luton are anxious for news of one of their two soldier sons, Private Francis James Blake, 13406, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. In the casualty lists published on Monday 31st May he was reported, under date April 19th, to be “wounded and missing”.
He joined the regiment in September of last year and since he went to the front he has written very regularly to his parents week by week. Early in April, however, his letters suddenly ceased and nothing more was heard of him until this inclusion of his name in the list of casualties. It is hoped that this publication may result in news being received from his comrades.
The family have not been in Luton sufficiently long(1) for them to become well enough known for news to reach them through the medium of relatives of other soldiers and Mr and Mrs Blake will therefore be extremely grateful if any of their son’s comrades who were with him when he was wounded will write and tell them what has happened.
Another son, George, is also in the Bedfords, but as far as is known he is quite all right(2).
Source: Luton News 3rd June 1915
(1) The family was from Lincolnshire.
(2) Private Blake, aged 19, was killed in action on 19th April 1915 helping to consolidate Hill 60 and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.
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