- SURNAME
Blake
- FORENAME
John Philip
- UNIT
43 Commando
- RANK
Captain
- NUMBER
- DATE OF DEATH
3rd June 1944
- AGE
26
- GRAVESITE
Belgrade War Cemetery, Yugoslavia 9.E.7
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 17.11.1917 Portsmouth, Hampshire
son of Philip and Marjorie Flora Blake, Havant, Hampshire
attended Emsworth House School
attended Aldenham School
graduated St John's College, Cambridge (BA)
mathematics teacher, Sherborne School 1939
payed cricket for Hampshire XI 1937-39
R.M. 1940
43 Commando July 1943
award M.C. (London Gazette 27 June 1944)
KIA Brac Island, Yugoslavia
London Gazette 36583, 23rd June 1944, Page 3040
DATE OF DEATH:
03-Jun-1944AWARD:
https://www.specialforcesroh.com/index.php?threads/blake-john-philip.28162/CITATION:
Military Cross : Capture of Mt ORNITO 3 Feb 44.
This officer showed a very high standard of leadership during this action. As leading Tp Comd during the difficult move and subsequent attack on Mt ORNITO, he showed complete disregard for the enemys fire, his sole intention being to seize his objective and close with the enemy. When his tp was fired on by enemy MG and Mortars from the flank, he rightly ignored them and pushed on to the objective. On reaching the top of Mt ORNITO, his Tp was heavily fired on by enemy MG posts in the vicinity. Without hesitation, and despite the added danger of grenades, he led the leading section in a bayonet charge onto the enemy positions, capturing 20 prisoners. Later in the day during a strong enemy counter-attack, his tp came under intense MR and Mortar fire from enemy positons overlooking his own. With complete disregard for his own safety, he moved from position to position encouraging his men, and directing their fire. As a result of his example, his tp was able to defeat a serious threat to the whole position.
This officer showed a very high standard of leadership during this action. As leading Tp Comd during the difficult move and subsequent attack on Mt ORNITO, he showed complete disregard for the enemys fire, his sole intention being to seize his objective and close with the enemy. When his tp was fired on by enemy MG and Mortars from the flank, he rightly ignored them and pushed on to the objective. On reaching the top of Mt ORNITO, his Tp was heavily fired on by enemy MG posts in the vicinity. Without hesitation, and despite the added danger of grenades, he led the leading section in a bayonet charge onto the enemy positions, capturing 20 prisoners. Later in the day during a strong enemy counter-attack, his tp came under intense MR and Mortar fire from enemy positons overlooking his own. With complete disregard for his own safety, he moved from position to position encouraging his men, and directing their fire. As a result of his example, his tp was able to defeat a serious threat to the whole position.
WEB LINKS:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36583/supplement/3040/https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7369989
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56407809/john-philip-blake
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