Lance Corporal 20490 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
Died 11 April 1917 aged 22
Remembered on Ash War Memorial
Remembered on the Arras Memorial, France
Remembered on the Memorial to the Men of Ash Vale in St Mary’s Church
Remembered on the Ash Vale School Memorial

Sidney John Thomas Blake was baptised at St Mary’s Church Ash Vale 3 February 1895. His parents were Sidney John and Frances Rosina Blake, who are listed on the 1901 census with seven children all born in Ash. Mr and Mrs Blake are recorded as living at 2 Montrose Villas, Vale Road, Ash Vale in the electoral register of 1918. Soldiers Died records that Sidney enlisted at Winchester.

Three of Sidney and Frances Blake’s sons went to fight in the war, Gordon, Eddie and Sidney. Mr and Mrs Blake were vergers of St Mary’s Church until 1931, when their son Gordon took over. Sidney operated the bellows of the organ before electric bellows were fitted.

The Ash Parish Magazine April 1906 records that Sidney Blake, Sydney Nash, Albert and Oliver Williams and Edward Young were amongst 35 boys who received prizes for good attendance at St Mary’s Sunday School.