BLAKEWAY, Benet Carr

Rank: 
Marine
Unit / Base: 
'3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines'
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
CH/X 5377
Born: 
Monday, February 10, 1930
Died : 
Thursday, February 9, 1956
Died on active service
Age: 
25
Local Roll of Honour: 
Marine Benet Blakeway, HQ 3 Commando Brigade, died during operations in Cyprus. He, and QMS Alfred Wheeler, both perished from exposure on anti-terrorist operations after their vehicle fell into a deep gully in the Troodos Mountains during a blizzard [1].
 
A newspaper report in the Daily Mirror on the 11th February 1956 states "RSM gave life for Commando.  One of the two British Commandos who died in a mountain blizzard in Cyprus was a regimental sergeant major. And he gave his life, it was revealed yesterday, in a vain bid to save the other Commando - a Marine who had hurt his ankle and could not go on without help. The hero was R.S.M. A. Wheeler. whose wife lives in Springfield Terrace, Elburton, Plymouth. The Marine he gave his life for was Benet Carr Blakeway, 25, son of the Rev. B. C. Blakeway, Vicar of Crayrigg, near Kendal, Westmorland. R.S.M. Wheeler dropped out of a party of Commandos to go to Marine Blakeway's assistance . The rest of the party arrived safely at base." [2].
 
Sources
AFM ROH
[1] British Cyprus Memorial Trust Book of Remembrance.
[2] Daily Mirror - Saturday 11 February 1956.
[2] British Newspaper Archive (website britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk); The British Library Board.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 
Additional content: 

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