Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Blackburn was born 1886 and married Adelaide Culpan from Ferryhill, County Durham in June 1908.
He enlisted in the Dorsetshire Regiment as Private 13877 rising through the ranks to Sergeant. Assigned to the 3rd Battalion attached to the Royal Munster Fusiliers and later the 7th Battalion, attached to the 30th Brigade, 10th Irish Division engaged 1916 in Greece. The Bulgarians, with support of the Germans, crossed the Greek border May 26th 1916 and the 10th Division was the first sent into action in August 1916 along the Struma River valley, coming into action against the Bulgarians, September 30th, in the Struma Offensive, crossing the river and taking the village of Yenikoi. During this offensive Sergeant 13877 William Blackburn Dorchester Regiment was killed in action, October 3rd 1916. He was 32 years old.
He is interred at Struma Military Cemetery, Greece, grave IV A 3. His widow Adelaide paid 12 shillings and 6 pence for an additional inscription to be added to his headstone which reads,” He Answered The Call And Saved His King And Country”. His awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and a pension were sent to his widow at Fawcett House, Craghead.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Blackburn is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04
