Profile

BLAKE, Argles Stanley
(Service number 38907)

Aliases
First Rank Corporal Last Rank Private

Birth

Date 8 April 1889 Place of Birth Riccarton

Enlistment Information

Date 5 October 1916 Age 27 years
Address at Enlistment Maude Street, Waimate
Occupation Draper's assistant (C.F.C.A.)
Previous Military Experience
Marital Status Married
Next of Kin Mrs A. McK. BLAKE (wife), 11 Maude Street, Waimate
Religion Church of England
Medical Information

Military Service

Served with NZ Armed Forces Served in Army
Military District

Embarkation Information

Body on Embarkation New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Unit, Squadron, or Ship 23rd Reinforcements, Specialist Company, Machine-Gun Section
Date 2 April 1917
Transport Corinthic
Embarked From Destination Plymouth, Devon, England
Other Units Served With
Last Unit Served With

Military Awards

Campaigns
Service Medals British War Medal; Victory Medal
Military Awards

Award Circumstances and Date

No information

Prisoner of War Information

Date of Capture
Where Captured and by Whom
Actions Prior to Capture
PoW Serial Number
PoW Camps
Days Interned
Liberation Date

Discharge

Date 11 March 1919 Reason

Hospitals, Wounds, Diseases and Illnesses

Post-war Occupations

Draper

Death

Date 15 July 1964 Age 75 years
Place of Death Christchurch
Cause
Notices Press, 16 & 17 July 1964
Memorial or Cemetery Canterbury Crematorium
Memorial Reference
New Zealand Memorials

Biographical Notes

Argles Stanley Blake was born on 8 April 1889 at Riccarton, Christchurch, the youngest son of Walter and Agnes Kate (née Bishop) Blake. He was educated at Central New Brighton School, spending six months at a private school in 1899. In 1902 he went on to the Boys’ High School.

Argles married Annie McKenzie Miller on 16 August 1915 at Waimate. He was a draper’s assistant for the C.F.C.A. at Wamate when he enlisted on 5 October 1916 at Waimate, naiming his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs A, McK. Blake, 11 Maude Street, Waimate. Waimate’s quota for the 22nd Reinforcement was farewelled on 18 October 1916. The Brass and Pipe Bands “played the men to the station, where a large crowd was gathered.” The Deputy-Mayor wished them God-speed and a safe return. The Rev. Mr Morrison said that the war was not a picnic; it was a serious matter, before calling for three cheers for the boys, and another three for their mothers. The departing men, A. S. Blake one of them, cheered as the train steamed out. Corporal A. S. Blake embarked with the Machine-Gun Section of the Specialist Company, departing for Plymouth, England, on 2 April 1917 per the “Corinthic”. He was discharged on 11 March 1919 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Annie McKenzie Blake died on 11 April 1961 at Christchurch and was cremated. Argles then married Muriel who survived him. He died suddenly on 15 July 1964 at his Christchurch residence. After a service at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, he was cremated at the Canterbury Crematorium. His nephew, Flying Officer Harold Roger Blake, lost his life in World War Two. The name of A. S. Blake appeared regularly on the Waimate Daily Advertiser Roll of Honour under the sub-title of "Answered the Call".

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museumm Cenotaph Database [04 July 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [04 July 2022]; School Admission records (Canterbury Branch NZSG) [08 July 2022]; Waimate Daily Advertiser, 18 October 1916, 30 May 1918, Press, 13 April 1961, 16 & 17 July 1964 (Papers Past) [18 September 2019; 09 & 19 July 2022]

External Links

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, Teresa Scott, South Canterbury Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.

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