In South Shields (Harton) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave, with a private headstone, of Lieutenant Andrew Hunter Blakey serving on H.M.S. “Mastiff” with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 19/02/1919.

The headstone, a cross on a plinth, reads:

In loving memory of
John William Blakey
beloved son of
John W. and Mary E. Blakey
who died July 22nd 1914
aged 24 years.

Also John W. Blakey
beloved husband of Mary E. Blakey,
died July 18th 1924, aged 60 years.

Also the above Mary E. Blakey
died Jan 6th 1950, in her 84th year.

Sacred to the memory of
my dearly loved husband Lieut. Andrew H. Blakey R.N.R.
who died while on active service Feb. 19th 1919 in his 27th year.

Andrew Hunter Blakey was born on the 30th June 1892 in South Shields, the eldest son of five children to father John William Blakey, born 1864, died July 18th 1924 and his wife Mary Elizabeth Blakey nee Hunter, born 1867, died 6th January 1950. They were married in 1888.

The other children were:-

• Tissie Blakey, born 1896, she married William H. Dickie, born 16th August 1895, in 1921, in South Shields. In 1921, Tissie and William Dickie were residing at 16 Forest Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire, and William was an Assistant Shipwright Superintendent. On the 18th January 1951, William and Tissie Dickie embarked from Plymouth on the SS Peleus, ship number 182477, of the Blue Funnel Line, bound for Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. At this time, they were residing at Lingmoor, Howbeck Road, Oxton, Birkenhead, and William was now a Shipowner. William Hugh Dickie, of Lingmoor, Howbeck Road, Birkenhead, died 25th November 1954, and probate was granted at Liverpool on 19th March 1955 to his wife, Tissie Dickie. Tissie Dickie, of 14 Greenacres, Preston Park Avenue, Brighton, died on 23rd November 1976, and probate was granted on 21st February 1977 in Brighton.
• Richard Blakey, born 2nd June 1898, baptised 3rd July 1898, at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. Richard Blakey married Elsie Ord in 1924, in Tynemouth, he died, aged 58, on the 2nd January 1957, on board the Ixion, ship number 183801, destination Australia, from Cerebral Haemorrhage, Fatty Heart and was buried at sea. [He had sailed from the 23rd December 1956]. He had been awarded WW2 medals for his service in the Merchant Navy. He resided at Cleveland Road, North Shields. He served his apprenticeship with the Prince Line at Newcastle upon Tyne . After getting his master’s certificate, he worked for the Blue Funnel line at Liverpool.
• Robert Blakey, born 9th August 1903, baptised 27th August 1903. Robert Blakey married Ellen Brown in 1927, in Newcastle upon Tyne. In 1939, Robert Blakey was residing with Ellen, born 23rd September 1900, at 137, Rothbury Terrace, Northumberland, and Robert was a Master Mariner. Ellen Blakey died, aged 41, in 1942, in Newcastle upon Tyne, Robert Blakey, of 7 Brangwyn Avenue, Brighton, died aged 72, on the 16th February 1976, and probate was granted at Brighton on 3rd May 1976.
• John William Blakey, born 12th June 1890, baptised 28th June 1890. In 1911, he was residing with his parents at 34 Baring Street, South Shields, and he was a Bank Clerk. He died, aged 24, on 22nd July 1914.

In 1901, Andrew Hunter Blakey was residing with his parents, John William Blakey, born 1864, and Mary Elizabeth Blakey, born 1867, at 34, Baring Street, South Shields, and his father was a County Court Clerk.

Andrew served his apprenticeship from the 19th May 1908 with Sir Robert Runciman for 4 years until 1912. He received his 2nd Mate certificate on the 16th August 1912 at South Shields.

Andrew Hunter Blakey married Florence Gertrude Clark, [born 30th August 1890, baptised 15th October 1890 at St Hilda’s Church], in 1916, in South Shields, died 18th March 1956, of Blair Park, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne, Kent. They had one child, John Andrew Blakey, born 21st November 1918, baptised 24th February 1919, at St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, South Shields. In 1921, John Andrew Blakey was residing with his widowed grandmother, Annie Clark, born 1857, his widowed mother, Florence Gertrude Blakey, born 1890, and his aunt, Helen Mabel Clark, born 1897, at 6, Queens Road, Monkseaton, Northumberland.

Andrew Hunter Blakey was at Chatham from the 22nd January 1916 and started training for a War Duration Commission as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant from the 11th February 1916. He had been employed on the vessel Begonia, ship number 109909, from the 17th April 1915 until the 4th October 1915 before joining the Royal Navy.  He was residing at 12 Baring Street, South Shields.

His first appointment was to be HMS Iron Duke, but this was cancelled and instead was sent on a 30 day Gunnery Course at HMS Pembroke, [land based depot], from the 9th March 1916. Then posted to HMS Buttercup at Wallington from the 29th April 1916 to the 1st May 1916 back to HMS Pembroke. From the 11th May 1916 he was with HMS Leander Lively, until the 31st January 1918. On the 19th January 1918 he was promoted to a Lieutenant. 14th March 1918, he was based at HMS Victory, [and based depot], but was serving onboard the HMS Liffey.14th December 1918, Andrew was onboard HMS Mastiff.

Andrew Hunter Blakey served on HMS Mastiff  which was an active Royal Navy M-class destroyer stationed in post-WW1 service, commanded by Lieutenant George E. L. Attwood, who was in command from 14th July 1918 to April 16th, 1919.

Andrew Hunter Blakey died from Influenza Pneumonia on the 19th February 1919, at Herbert Hospital, Woolwich.

In 1921, widowed Florence Gertrude Clark was residing with her widowed mother, Annie Clark, her son, John Andrew Blakey [presumably Andrew Hunter Blakey], born 1918, and her sister Helen Mabel Clark, born 1897, and a Shorthand Typist. Florence Gertrude Blakey married Captain Harold Cunliffe Hilton, born 3rd July 1873, on the 14th December 1923, in Tynemouth, died 1952 at Newcastle upon Tyne.

In 1939, Florence Gertrude and Harold Hilton, were residing at 64, Holwell Avenue, Whitley Bay, Monkseaton, and Harold was a retired Civil Engineer.  Also at the home were Mavis I. Hilton, born 31st October 1927, and one redacted record.

Harold Cunliffe Hilton was admitted to the Civil Engineer lists on 4th April 1905, at the Town Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne.  He worked for Newcastle Corporation. He served in the Royal Engineers in WW1 with the rank of Captain. Went to France in March 1917. Resided at 28 Queens Road, Monkseaton, Northumberland. His son, an apprentice Civil engineer, Ronald Bremel Hilton was in the RFC later in the RAF,  during WW1. His service number was 115294, 5 feet eight inches. He joined on the 17th November 1917 in the Army for the duration of the War. Started with the Royal Flying Corps on the 26th January 1918. 1st April 1918, he was in the Royal Air Force. 11th July 1918, he was with 166 Squadron. [No. 166 Squadron was originally formed in the UK on the 13th June 1918 as a Royal Air Force heavy bomber unit].  He was discharged on the 21st March 1919.

Sources:  British Newspaper Archive; National Archives; Western Front Association; Jennifer Stephenson; James Hoy Archive; Merchant Navy Archives

Andrew Hunter Blakey is remembered on our List of Ships’ Crews.