BLAKE, John Philip

Rank: 
Captain
Unit / Base: 
43RM Commando
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Honours & Awards: 
Born: 
Saturday, November 17, 1917
Died : 
Saturday, June 3, 1944
Killed in action or died of wounds
Age: 
26
Cemetery/Memorial: 
Capt Blake MC 43RM Commando
Captain John Blake MC died during operations against the enemy held island of Brac. Son of Philip and Marjorie Flora Blake, of Havant, Hampshire. B.A. (Cantab). He had earlier been awarded the Military Cross for leadership, gallantry and devotion to duty while serving with Royal Marine Commandos in the capture of Mt. Ornito, Italy on the 3 Feb. 1944 [1][2][3].
John Philip Blake was born at Portsmouth in 1917 and educated at Aldenham, and in 1936 at Cambridge graduating with a degree in Mathematics.  He took up a post as mathematics master at Sherborne School in 1939 before joining the Royal Marines after only one term at the school. He also played cricket for Hampshire in 1939 [4].
 
Sources
[1] CWGC
[2] London Gazette 36583, page 3040.
[3] National Archives file WO373/47/157.
[4] Obituary in RM Globe and Laurel Nov. 1944 edition.
[4][image] Sherborne School Archives.
 
Notes
An inscription on the back of the Lectern at St Faiths Havant Church has his name inscribed. Research by Lt Col Peter Thomas RM on the Church website confirm Brac as being the operation in which he was killed.
 
Primary Roll of Honour: 

Ask Questions / Add Information / Add Photos

Use the Archive Forum for research enquiries, or to add information or photos. [register now]
Read some frequently asked questions here [FAQ's].
Contact the Archive via the [contact form].
 
All content is researched and administered by the Commando Veterans Archive.