Photo: B. Chandler

Newcastle Evening Chronicle Monday 29/07/190

Newcastle Evening Chronicle Wed 24/07/1940

Thomas Walter Lackenby Blakey, born on the 6th April 1924? was the son of Thomas Lackenby Blakey and Jane Blakey, 15 Moorland Crescent, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and the husband of Catherine Blakey who resided at Derby Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Thomas worked for the Scottish and Newcastle Breweries, before enlisting.

He was killed by bomb splinters on the 22nd July 1940 from a lone Heinkel at about 09.27.

The regiment was renamed the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers in 1921. It was deployed to Ireland and lost nine of its men in the Scramogue ambush of March 1921 during the Irish War of Independence. In addition to the lack of conflicts, their relative inactivity was also due to the military high command struggling to decide what role cavalry regiments could perform in modern warfare. Lances ceased to be carried by the six lancer regiments in the British Army for active service in 1928, though the impressive if archaic weapon was retained for ceremonial parades and guard duties. In the case of the 9th Lancers, lances were formally withdrawn in 1932, four years before they lost their horses. The Lancers landed in France to cover the retreating French, Belgian and British armies on the 20th May 1940 and took part in the Battle of France. Withdrawn to England, the regiment landed in North Africa in September 1941 and undertook a leading part in the First Battle of El Alamein in July 1942. In the spring of 1938, the 1st Mobile Division, later to become the 1st Armoured Division, was formed: the 2nd Armoured Brigade, which included the 9th Lancers, was assigned to it.

Jim Mackay has written to say:

I have some information on Trooper Blakey. He was killed by bomb splinters in the morning of 22 July 1940 at Duff House, Banff, Aberdeenshire which at that time was PoW Camp No 5 housing German PoW, mostly submariners. The Camp was attacked on that morning by a German Heinkel bomber, killing 6 PoW, all from the U-26, and two British soldiers, one of whom was Trooper Blakely. His death is recorded in the Statutory Register of Deaths at Banff.

As a volunteer on behalf of Friends of Duff House (the House is now owned by Historic Environment Scotland and operated as a Gallery/ Historic Mansion) I’m hoping that a memorial to the men killed will be erected and dedicated, hopefully on 22 July 2018.

HOWEVER I’ve hit several brick walls in my (amateur) research. No one seems to know why Trooper Blakey was anywhere near the POW camp in Banff! I copy a reply received from the Curator of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers Museum:

'I have checked the 9th Lancers War Diary, and the 9th Lancers Second World War History both of which are comprehensive and detailed, however no mention is made of the secondment of 9th Lancers to Duff House in Banff, Aberdeenshire, nor is he commemorated on the list of 9th Lancers who died during the War which is contained in the back of the regimental history - an oversight as he should have been included. I note from the CWGC that he is commemorated in a graveyard in Newcastle upon Tyne.

I am unable to provide any information as to why he and his army colleagues were based at Duff House. It is an unfortunate fact that soldiers killed in such circumstances such accidents while training, enemy bombing raids, or when they are detached from their units are often overlooked and neglected, and families and researchers not to mention museum curators find it difficult to trace any information on their service.'

As well as Tpr Blakey of the Queens Royal Lancers I’ve identified casualties belonging to the 3rd Carabiniers, Royal Scots Fusiliers, 4th 7th Dragoon Guards, 4th Hampshires, East Surrey, 17th 21st Lancers, RAMC and KOYLI. As most of these regiments formed parts of the Royal Armoured Corps, I contacted the National Army Museum but they could offer no explanation as to why these men were in Banff at this time. Their response is copied here: ‘The National Army Museum is not generally a repository of official records so our ability to answer questions of this nature is limited, I’m afraid. However, I had hopes that our run of the ‘General Return of the Strength of the British Army’ for July 1940 might identify the camp at Banff and the personnel stationed there, but as you’ll see from the attached, there’s no mention of it in the ’North Highlands’ sector (or even a Royal Armoured Corps contingent anywhere within the sector).”

So, why was he, and the soldiers from the other regiments here? It was only a small camp with around 110 prisoners. Several correspondents have pointed to Kew so maybe a trip there might shed some light on the mystery.

I don’t know if you might have any contact details of Tpr Blakey’s descendants. They may be interested that his name is missing from the official Regimental War History and that he is to be remembered on a memorial in Banff. It would also be interesting if there were any family anecdotes about Thomas.

Thomas Walter Lackenby Blakey is remembered at Newcastle on NUT041

The Hidden History of Duff House
The CWGC entry for Trooper Blakey