Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 47440 Joseph Blakeman

Age: 30
From: Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Friday 3rd August 1917
Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Joseph was born in the summer of 1876, the son of Thomas Blakeman and Mary (nee Taylor), who married in Liverpool in 1859. Thomas was from Manchester and Mary from Liverpool. They had at least six children, all born in Liverpool: William, Thomas, Mary, Jessie, Joseph, and Charles.

In 1881 the family is living at 106 Robsart Street, Everton. His father is a dock labourer. William is 16, Thomas 13, Mary 9, Jessie 7, Joseph is 4, and Charles six months old.

By 1891 they have moved to 9 Pagewood Street, Everton. His father is a dock labourer, daughter Mary is 18, Joseph is 14, an errand boy at the port, and Charles is 10.

When he was 21, Joseph married Elizabeth Doyle in St. Silas, Toxteth, Liverpool on Christmas Day 1898. He gives his occupation as painter and his address as Back Bridport Street. They had eight children, but tragically four of the first five died in infancy: Thomas born in 1899, Susannah in 1903, Joseph in 1905, and Charles in 1907. The four surviving children were Mary Ann, born 1901, William, 1908, Joseph 1911, and Lilian in 1913.

In 1901 Joseph, 23, and Elizabeth, 20, are living at 9 Vine Terrace, Everton. Joseph is a house painter. They have no living children.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 33 Sampson Street, Liverpool.

Joseph aged 30, born 1881 is a painter and paper hanger who was born in Liverpool. His wife Elizabeth is aged 28, born 1883 home duties and born in Liverpool as were all their children. They have been married for twelve years and had seven children of which four died. Mary Anne aged 10, born 1901 is at school, William aged 2, 1909, Joseph, born 1911 and just two weeks old.

They had another child a daughter Lilian who was born 19^th July 1913. Army pension records show the Elizabeth was born 4^th December 1882, William was born 10^th November 1908 and Joseph 18^th March 1911.

As his service record has not survived, the details of his service are not known, but we do know that Joseph enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool, and served as Private 47440, 18^th (Pals) Bn, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. He was transferred and serving in the 19^th Bn when he was killed in action at the Third Battle of Ypres, also called Passchendaele, on 3^rd August 1917. He was 40 or 41 years old.

Details of the actions of the 19th Battalion in late July and early August 1917 are shown below:

"19th King's with the 2nd Bedfords moved from Canal Reserve Camp at 6.30 a.m.on 31st July 1917 to Chateau Segard, thence to the Promenade south of Zillebeke Lake at 10 a.m. and the two Battalions were to attack the enemy at 4 p.m. The King's moved forward to Maple Copse but shortly afterwards the attack was cancelled. At this time the whole area was being heavily shelled and the Btn took cover in shell holes. At 4 a.m. on 1st August, the 19th had established communication with Battalions on both flanks the enemy's shell fire was intense and the weather conditions abominable, what the Boche guns failed to destroy, the rain demolished. The following day 2nd August showed no improvement, rain fell in torrents and the enemy's artillery continued to be very active. The 3rd August was a replica of the previous two days. That night of the 3rd August the Middlesex Regt took over the line and the tired 19th moved back to Chateau Segard and then Ottawa Camp.

Roll Call on the 4th August 1917 revealed the full extent of the 19th losses

11 other Ranks Killed.

4 Officers and 101 other Ranks wounded

16 other Ranks were Missing "

Joseph has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His medal card shows that Joseph earned the Victory and British War Medals. His widow Elizabeth, living at 33 Sampson Street, Liverpool, received his effects and a pension of 26/3d for herself and three minor children (Mary Ann was over 16).

His daughter Lilian died in 1936 aged 23. His widow Elizabeth never remarried and was still living at 33 Sampson Street at the outbreak of World War Two, with their daughter Mary Ann. Elizabeth died in 1955. Mary Ann never married and died in 1978. His son Joseph married and died in 1978. His son William married, served in the Army as a Sergeant in WW2, and died in 1990.

Joseph is commemorated on Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 13 Left.

We currently have no further information on Joseph Blakeman, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.