Morpeth Herald 18/08/1916 carries a brief obituary:
ROLL OF HONOUR
BLACKHALL.- Killed in action, July 14th, 1916, Private George Blackhall, 14th Batt., N.F., aged 37 years, the dearly-beloved husband of Sarah Blackhall, 13 West Greens, Morpeth.
Oh, how our hearts do ache, dear husband,
When we think how you died;
To think you could not speak to us,
Before you closed your eyes,
No matter how we pray,
No matter who we call;
There is nothing left to answer,
But your photo on the wall,
But the unknown grave is the bitterest blow,
None but a wife’s aching heart can know,
Though buried in a soldier’s grave,
Amid the shot and shell;
For Country’s sake he gave his life, And stood his trials well.-
Deeply mourned by his loving wife, son and two daughters.
Morpeth Herald 25/08/1916 carries the following:
News has been received that George Blackhall, eldest son of Hannah and the late George Blackhall, Morpeth, was killed in action on July 14th.
Morpeth Herald 22/09/1916 carries the following:
TRIBUTE TO AN OLD SCHOLAR AT MORPETH (extract)
In referring to the death of this another of our soldier townsmen who have laid down their lives for their country, the Rev. J. Miller, of the Congregational Church, Morpeth, spoke to his congregation on Sunday morning, the 10th inst., …
“A comrade of George Blackhall’s, both before and since the war began, writing on August 2nd to express sympathy with Mrs Blackhall and her three children, speaks very highly of his late companion, mentioning the fact that his death was instantaneous and consequently painless. The writer also felt that he had lost a brother with whom it was always a pleasure to consort, and who was a source of inspiration and help in danger and out of it. He was greatly respected by everyone in the unit who knew him and he gave his life for king and country” …
“Private Blackhall enlisted on September 14th, 1914, and went to France on September 8th, 1915, where he served in the Transport Section of the 14th Northumberland Fusiliers until the time of his being killed. He was much respected by all who knew him, and we bespeak the sympathy of all our readers for Mrs Blackhall and family in their sad bereavement.
George Blackhall is remembered at Morpeth on M17.10 M17.16 M17.21 and M17.29
