Son of Henry Blakey and Elizabeth Wagstaff. Husband of Mrs Alice Schofield, Allerton Bywater
Died 10th June 1918, aged 21
Buried: Bienvillers Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France
Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 5th Battalion, Service no. 240182
Story
Born in Seacroft 1897, Sergeant Blakey lived at 4 Warrington Row, Kippax. Initially he was employed as a miner with the Allerton Bywater Colliery, but enlisted with the Castleford Company of Territorials before the War, and went to France with them on the 13th April 1915. He was award the Military Medal for bravery in the field, specifically “conspicuous bravery in a raid on an enemy stronghold at Neuve Chapelle on June 22nd 1917”. This medal is the equivalent to the Military Cross which was only awarded to Commissioned Officers. The awarding of Sergeant Blakey’s medal was announced in the London Gazette and he earned the right to add the letters M.M. to his name.
After earning the Military Medal, William wrote a letter home that was read out by the Kippax Soldiers’ and Sailor’s Comforts Fund, reported on 14th September 1917: “I am not at present dodging Fritz’s shells, etc. I am at an Army Infantry Training School for a week or two, though before I came here we’d a hard struggle with them and I was one of the lucky ones to return. I can tell you that it feels nice to know that we are backed up by the old boys at home and I hope you will thank them all on my behalf.”
On 2nd February 1918 whilst on leave, he married Alice Schofield in Allerton Bywater. His father had already passed away. Alice was dressed in a pale-green crepe-de-chine, with hat to match. William’s best man was Fred Clayton, who had formerly been a Lance Corporal in the same platoon. On the 6th February 1918, William was the special guest at a fund raising concert held by the Kippax Soldiers and Sailors Comforts Fund, during which he was presented with an inscribed gold watch.
Sergeant William Blakey was killed in action on 10th June 1918. His company quartermaster sergeant wrote to his widow and said; “He was killed instantly and suffered no pain. He was a fine fellow, and one of the best-liked sergeants in the battalion. His men would do ought for him. Allow me to say for our company that we have lost a good soldier and a pal.” A soldier who was wounded in the same shell burst as Sergeant Blakey added “Sergeant Blakey got hit in the head whilst covering the retirement of his men. You can depend that he died like a soldier.”
He is buried in Bienvillers Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France Ref XXI C9. His widow Alice received £5 8s 6d from the army on 9th October 1918, and a second sum of £26 10s on 26th November 1919.
Kippax Roll of Honour 