Drummer George Henry Blake 1872 George Henry Blake was born in Hoxton, London, on the 30th December 1895. George was the son of George Fredrick and Elizabeth Blake. George Henry was employed as a printers labourer. In November 1913, George visited 112 Shaftesbury Street in London and enlisted to the British Army. George joined the City of London Battalion, which was a territorial force, established in 1908 and affiliated to the Royal Fusiliers. The TF in peace time, were a part time organisation and George would most probably have continued his work as a printer as well being in the TF. George would have then attended preliminary training and attended so many drills a month, however, on the 5th August 1914, just as George would have been looking forward to two annual summer camps, Britain declared war on Germany and the TF were mobilised and embodied as a full time force. George therefore received a mobilisation notice to report to Shaftesbury street that day for full time active service. George was then affiliated to the 4th Battalion which were established for Overseas service. Men in the TF were not obliged to serve overseas as the TF were formed for home defence and men were given the option to decline overseas service. It is clear however that George chose to sign the 'Imperial service obligation' and therefore was happy to serve overseas. It appears George signed this obligation a little later than his comrades and so was affiliated to the 2/4th Battalion, however this could also be because of his position as a drummer rather than of signing it late. The battalion were then posted to Malta and began there post there on New Years Eve 1914. In August 1915, the battalion moved to Egypt and landed at Gallipoli on 15th August 1915. The Battalion were then placed under orders of the 1st Brigade, part of the Royal Naval Division. George was then engaged in action from this point onwards, serving in the front line trenches. On the 15th December, the battalion, where ordered into the trenches along the Eski line on the right of the front, not far from the beaches. The battalion saw bombardments from Turkish shellfire. George was regrettably killed during this shelling attack. Ironically, his death was the same day orders were given that the battalion were to have evacuate Gallipoli. George's family were notified of his death soon after the 20th December 1915 and sent an illuminated scroll and bronze plaque (Death Penny). George lies in Plot I, row F, grave 12 at Helles Redoubt Cemetery along with 2026 other brave men who died in the Gallipoli campaign.

James Jefferies