Peter Lisson Blanchard was the youngest son of Thomas and Mary Blanchard.  

He was descended via his father from two Exeter families, the Blanchards and Lissons,with strong military links to the Devonshire Regiment and its predecessor the Devon Militia going back to the Napoleonic Wars.  His Lisson great grandfather, Peter Lisson, .served with the East Devon Regiment of Militia for 25 years.  His Blanchard grandfather, Peter Lisson Blanchard, was a Staff sergeant for the First Battalion Devonshire Militia (later 4th Battalion Devonshire Regiment).

Peter Lisson Blanchard, like his father Thomas, worked on the railways, probably the London and Southwestern Railway, first as a porter in London and later as a shunter in Devonport.

He enlisted in Devonport in July 1915 as a private in the 8th Bn of the Devonshire Regiment along with his cousin Maurice Blanchard. They arrived in France in July 1915.

Peter Lisson Blanchard was recorded missing presumed killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915. His body was not found.

Peter Lisson Blanchard is commemorated on the Loos Monument.  He is also commemorated (P Blanchard) on the War Memorial at Waterloo Station.

He was awarded posthumously the Victory Medal, the British and 1915 Star. 

of the Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915. sin

Alison Blake