Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Zarah Jowett Blake a Shoe Rivertter, born 1876 in Shepshed, Leics., and his wife Emily, born 1873 in Hathern, Leics. Herbert Percy was born in 1899 in Shepshed, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Charnwood Road, Shepshed, Leics., in the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Botolph. In April 1911 Herbert was a Schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Charnwood Road, Shepshed, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Bernard Harcourt Blake, born 1904 and Nellie Jane, born 1907, both his siblings were born in Shepshed, Leics. The War Diary entry for the events from the 18th to the 30th April 1918 records. G.H.Q. 1. LINE OF TRENCHES. On the evening of the 18th/19th April the Battalion took over the line of posts from the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. Dispositions as follows:- One Company in BEDFORD HOUSE with outposts. One Company in WOODCOTE HOUSE with outposts. Two Companies in GHQ 1 and 2 defensive lines. The enemy attacked on the 26th April and the outpost line on TORR TOP was withdrawn. BEDFORD HOUSE line then became the front line. The enemy penetrated posts on the right of the Battalion and the Battalion filled in the gap as a defensive flank on the 27th April. On the 28th the enemy attacked and captured VOORMEZEELE and LOCKS again expanding the right of the Battalion. The gap was again filled by the Battalion. The Battalion was relieved by the 9th WELSH REGT (19th Division) and the line was handed over intact, no ground having been lost by the Battalion. The Battalion did twenty one days continuously in the line.