Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Enoch Blake a Granite Quarry Wagon Labeller, born 1856 in Shepshed, Leics., and his wife Sarah, born 1854 in Shepshed, Leics. Frank was born in 1898 in Bardon Hill, Leics., his siblings were Tom, born 1877, Charley, born 1878, Sarah Ann, born 1883, Enoch, born 1885, Isaac, born 1887 and Caroline, born 1890, the latter six siblings were all born in Shepshed, Leics., Edith, born 1893 and Edwin, born 1897, the latter two siblings were both born in Bardon Hill, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at 17, The Crescent, Bardon Hill, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Copt Oak, St. Peter. In April 1911 Frank was a Schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 17, The Crescent, Bardon Hill, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Enoch, Edwin and Edna, born 1906 in Bardon Hill, Leics. The War Diary for today records. FONQUEVILLERS. At midnight the Battn was disposed thus for battle:- A Coy – Captain R. WARD-JACKSON and D Coy Captain THOMPSON were in dug outs and cellars in FONQUEVILLERS. Battn HQ’s, B and C Coy’s, Lewis guns, Bombers were in MIDLAND trench, an assembly trench running north and south 700 yards west of FONQUEVILLERS church. GOMMECOURT was to be attacked. The 46th Division was to advance in south east direction, the 56th Division in north east direction. The Park, the point of the salient was to be refused – the intention being to isolate the Park Garrison and to attack it from north east and south east at 3.00pm. The position had been shelled by artillery trench mortars for some days previously and smoke barriers had been formed. Much wire however was left – dug outs were not destroyed, and machine gun emplacements were free from damage. The village was flattened out and the trees bared and torn down. The 46th Division was disposed thus:- The NOTTINGHAM AND DERBY BRIGADE on the left – the STAFFORD BRIGADE on the right. The attack was to be in 8 waves. The 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT formed a ninth wave behind the STAFFORDS. Of A Coy 2 platoons under 2nd Lt’s HEPWORTH and SALMON were to dig a communication trench from the SUCRERIE, a ruin in front of our line to the nearest point in the Hun first line. This work was actually started by Captain WARD-JACKSON who superintended until he was severely wounded and carried in by C.S.M. HILL. Artillery had fired all night on enemy’s approach lines. At 6.24am the bombardment of front lines began, at 7.30am the infantry advanced. The 56th Division reached the 3rd Hun line and took prisoners, but were driven back. They lost many by the fire from PUISEUX. A smoke barrier had been formed, but apparently this blew off at the time the 4th and 5th wave was starting across from the 46th Division. The Hun machine guns got into action and the attack of the 46th Division was held up at about 8.00am. The remainder of A and D Coy’s of the 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT had been reorganised in carrying parties, ammunition, bombs, ROYAL ENGINEERS material, water. These parties started but were held up by lines in front which could not advance. B and C Coy’s with Lewis guns started at 7.30am with the advance, they were to have taken up position in our old front line, but again were held up by waves in front. A second attack was organised for 3.30pm, but it proved impractical. The recent heavy rains had made the trenches sticky, and the task of sorting the units proved impossible. At 3.50pm orders were given for the 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT to hold our front line, and for the STAFFORDS to withdraw. This was done and the 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT remained in the trenches that night. Casualties during the battle are given in Part II Battn Orders. They include 2nd Lt W. K. CALLARD, 1385 C.S.M. F. JOHNSON and 6 other men killed. Captain WARD-JACKSON, 2nd Lt’s G. RUSSELL and T. P. CREED wounded to hospital and 3 officers slightly wounded, returned to duty.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday July 14th, 1916

BARDON SOLDIER KILLED

News was received on Monday morning of the death in action of Private Frank Blake, of the Leicesters. Deceased, who was not 20 years of age, had been out in France for over a year. He was born at Bardon and his widowed mother now resides at Forest Street, Shepshed. Lieut. W. H. Reynolds in a letter to Mrs Blake, says “I am more than sorry and his other comrades loved him, also myself. He died a hero’s death – at his post – which was instantaneous. He was a splendid soldier and you have my heartfelt sympathy in your great loss.”

Coalville Times article - Friday June 29th, 1917

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of Private Frank Blake, of Bardon Hill, killed in action on July 1st, 1916.

“Sleep on, dear brother, in a far-off land,
In a grave we may never see
But as long as life and memory lasts,
We will remember thee.”

From his sister and brother, nephew and niece, Maltby, Yorkshire

Coalville Times article - Friday July 5th, 1918

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of our dear brother, Private Frank Blake, who fell in action, July 1st, 1916.

“Time has passed, our hearts still sore,
As time rolls on we miss him more
From memory’s page we’ll never blot
Three little words; ‘Forget-me-not’.”

From his Sister and Brother, Nephew and Niece, Maltby, Yorkshire.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 4th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of Pte. Frank Blake, of Bardon Hill, who was killed in action on July 1st, 1916.

“There is in France a grave unknown
Where a dear brother sleeps alone
But his name is written in letters of gold
On our hearts he left at home.”

From his loving Sister and Brother, Nephew and Niece, Maltby, Yorkshire.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 14/10/2017