Horace Arthur Blackwell

7th Bn Leicestershire Regiment On 7th July 1916 the 110th Brigade became part of the 21st Division, taking part in their first major battle on the night of 13th/14th July 1916, after a successful attack on the Bazentine-le-Petit village and nearby wood on the Somme. It is not known whether Private Blackwell took part in this attack or was part of a draft to replace the 18 Officers and 535 other ranks, killed, wounded or missing during this action. The depleted battalion marched north to Agnez Les Duisans, near Arras, and after eleven days training, the newly constituted 7th Battalion went back into the front line trenches at 11pm on 7th August. Blackwell had served overseas for fifteen months when he became one of the 108 Officers and men from the 110th Brigade who perished on that day. At 5am three strong infantry attacks were launched by the Germans supported by ground attack aircraft on Glencorse Wood and Black Watch Corner. It was during these enemy attacks in the region of Polygon Wood that Blackwell was reported missing believed killed in action. Horace has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 50 to 51).

Two of Horace Arthur's brothers, Joseph Charles and Herbert Owen also served in the war. Private Joseph Charles Blackwell, the eldest son, worked as a stores clerk in a government factory before enlisting in the South Notts Hussars and was serving in Egypt when Horace died. Joseph was admitted to hospital in Palestine suffering from malaria. He later served in France where he was wounded. Private Herbert Owen Blackwell, who was a year older than Horace, worked as a miner at Trowell Colliery before he enlisted in 1914, when he joined the 20th Hussars. He was injured after being thrown from his horse.