"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them".
Albert Blay was born on 13th October 1907 in Maidenhead Berkshire to Frederick Blay, a bricklayer and brewery clerk, and his wife Louisa Green.
On the 1911 Census, three-year-old Albert is living with his parents and older brother Frederick Archie George Blay at 1 Spencer's Road, Maidenhead Berkshire.
In 1931 Albert married Phyllis Ida Burrows in Grantham, Leicestershire
Abert appears on the 1939 Register, living in "Dunromin" Allenby Road, Maidenhead, with his wife Phyllis and their young son John Robert Keith Blay. Albert is working as a brewery clerk for Nicholson & Sons Ltd. Living next door at "Dawn" Allenby Road, is Albert's older brother Frederick George Blay and his sister-in-law Elsie Blay nee Lester.
Abert appears on the 1939 Register, living in "Dunromin" Allenby Road, Maidenhead, with his wife Phyllis and their young son John Robert Keith Blay. Albert is working as a brewery clerk for Nicholson & Sons Ltd. Living next door at "Dawn" Allenby Road, is Albert's older brother Frederick George Blay and his sister-in-law Elsie Blay nee Lester.
Sometime after the outbreak of World War II, Albert enlisted with The Cheshire Regiment. Unfortunately, Albert was to die as a result of war action on 10th May 1941. The Maidenhead Advertiser reported on Wednesday 14th May 1941:
"Air Raid Victim - Pte. A. R Blay of "Dawn," [sic] Allenby Road, who was serving in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, [sic] was killed by a bomb while on duty during an air raid on a Merseyside town last week. Before joining up he was employed by Nicholson Brewery."
The mistakes in the report were later corrected in Albert's Obituary, publish by the Maidenhead Advertiser on Wednesday 21st May 1941:
"Obituary.
"Air Raid Victim - Pte. A. R Blay of "Dawn," [sic] Allenby Road, who was serving in the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, [sic] was killed by a bomb while on duty during an air raid on a Merseyside town last week. Before joining up he was employed by Nicholson Brewery."
The mistakes in the report were later corrected in Albert's Obituary, publish by the Maidenhead Advertiser on Wednesday 21st May 1941:
"Obituary.
Pte. Albert Blay
Killed in an Air Raid
The internment of Private Albert Blay, of the Cheshire Regiment, whose death through enemy action at a Merseyside town we reported last week, took place at Maidenhead Cemetery on Thursday, the service being conducted by the Rev. Canon C. E. M. Fry M.B.E., R.D.
Before joining the Army Pte. Blay was a travelling representative for Messrs. Nicholson & Sons, L.T.D., brewers, High-street, Maidenhead. He had been employed by the same firm since he left school, and his earlier days was on the clerical staff. A native of Maidenhead he was educated at Alwyn-road School. At one time he was a member of the choir at St Luke's Church, where he was also a server. Private Blay, whose home was at "Dunromin," Allenby-road, Maidenhead, leaves a widow and a six year old son.
Pte. Blay was buried with full military honours. The coffin was covered by the Union Jack, and the Devonshire Regiment provided the firing party and eight bearers. Three volleys were fired over the grave, and the Last Post and Reveille were sounded."
Albert was just 34 years old when he was killed. Phyllis never remarried and moved with her son John to Thanet, Kent, where she was to pass away in the August of 1994.
Before joining the Army Pte. Blay was a travelling representative for Messrs. Nicholson & Sons, L.T.D., brewers, High-street, Maidenhead. He had been employed by the same firm since he left school, and his earlier days was on the clerical staff. A native of Maidenhead he was educated at Alwyn-road School. At one time he was a member of the choir at St Luke's Church, where he was also a server. Private Blay, whose home was at "Dunromin," Allenby-road, Maidenhead, leaves a widow and a six year old son.
Pte. Blay was buried with full military honours. The coffin was covered by the Union Jack, and the Devonshire Regiment provided the firing party and eight bearers. Three volleys were fired over the grave, and the Last Post and Reveille were sounded."
Albert was just 34 years old when he was killed. Phyllis never remarried and moved with her son John to Thanet, Kent, where she was to pass away in the August of 1994.
That's a fairly intricate design at the top. It's lovely.
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DeleteIt will be the badge of the Cheshire Regiment that Albert served with.
This is my great grandfather's grave - so sad.
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