Reuben Blakeman
Biography
Reuben Blakeman was born on the 22nd August 1899 at 11 Vine Street, Hanley, Staffordshire. His mother, Margaret, aged 29 was born in Canada as were his two older brothers, William and John. The family moved to Liverpool via Manchester where Reuben’s father William was employed as a labourer and stoker at the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board and in 1912 was earning twenty eight shillings and sixpence per week. The family home was at 2 Garden View, Upper Bean Street.
William, the father, died an accidental death on the 22nd October 1912 aged 44. Margaret the mother, aged 41, died a little earlier from natural causes. At the time of their deaths they had five children, William 15 who worked as a lather boy in a barber’s shop, John 14, Reuben 12, Alice 9, Nellie 7 and Charles 4. Their only relatives refused to have anything to do with the children. William and John went to live at 25 Clegg Street, Reuben and Charles were boarded with Mrs. McQubac at 29 Drysdale Road but the fate of the girls is not known.
In 1912 Reuben was only 4 feet 6 inches and weighed under five stone. His standard 6 report described him as cheerful, willing, honest, of good intelligence and health and well behaved. In April Reuben was accepted into St. Mark’s Home with a view to his emigration. This must have suited Reuben very well as he was keen to go to Canada. William, the father, had received compensation and this was used to support the two older brothers who now worked for the Mersey Docks and Reuben at Natland. Apparently £120 was left for further distribution.
Reuben’s emigration was arranged. In addition to the earlier comments he was described as clean and tidy, very obliging, trustworthy and quick and good at housework. He sailed from Liverpool to Quebec arriving at the Gibbs Home, Sherbrooke on the 20th June 1913. He began work immediately as a farm hand for Mr. W.E. Baird of Kinburn, Ontario earning four dollars per month.
Service Record
There are no known further records for Reuben Blakeman in Canada. However, on the 12th April 1917 a Mr. Blakeman joined the Canadian Army at the Richmond Quebec recruiting office. He gave his address as Gibbs Home, Sherbrooke. He stated he was born in Hanley, Staffordshire. He gave Mrs. Ellen Lennon, 16 Clegg Street, Prince Edwin Street, Liverpool as his guardian and next of kin but crucially he also stated that William Blakeman of the 9th Battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment was also his next of kin and lived at 25 Clegg Street. He gave his date of birth as 18th March 1899. The Christian name given was Claude. All the facts show this to be Reuben.
The date of birth was incorrect. This might have been because as an orphan he was unsure of this date but more than likely as at the time of attestation he was only 17 but wanted to convince the authorities otherwise. The record sheet in fact says his apparent age is 18. His details are given as having a fair complexion, dark eyes, light brown hair and a scar over his right eye. His height was a little over 5 feet 4 inches. His girth was only 32 inches when expanded and the medical board declared him unfit because of his small chest. Someone in the chain of command then changed this as his small chest was “recorded as a defect but not sufficient to cause rejection.”
As 2134915 Private Claude Blakeman of the Cyclist Section 23rd Reserve Battalion he sailed from Halifax on the 3rd May 1917. He travelled via Liverpool and changes of unit arriving in France on the 5th April 1918 where he joined the 14th (Royal Montreal) Battalion Canadian Infantry.
Medals
Reuben was entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal in addition to his Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Distinguished Conduct Medal
During the period 27th September to 2nd October 1918 the Canadian Corps mounted attacks in the Canal-du-Nord area towards Bourlon Wood and Cambrai. The Edinburgh Gazette of 4th December 1919 records the following Distinguished Conduct Medal citation:
“2134915 Private C. Blakeman 14th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Royal Montreal Regiment) — For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack near Sains lez Marquion on 27th September 1918. His entire section becoming casualties by enemy machine gun fire from a flank, he immediately crawled forward and eventually around to the rear of the emplacement, and after throwing in a grenade he rushed it single-handed with a fixed bayonet and succeeded in killing and wounding the crews and capturing two guns. This fine action undoubtedly saved many casualties.”
How They Died
Sadly just four days after his act of gallantry, on Tuesday 1st October 1918, Reuben was killed.
Where They Rest
Reuben has no known grave but his name is recorded on the Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge. It almost certainly will never be known why Reuben changed his name to Claude but the long mystery surrounding the R. Blakeman on the Natland War Memorial is now solved.