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Note: Daniel Blackwell (1878-1918) ========================
Death certificate shows age of 37 at death, not 40 (altered age on enlist?)
Commonwealth War Graves have his age at death as 36.
1881/04/03 Aged 3, of Yeading - RG11/1335 f.37 p.26
1891/04/05 Brickmaker, aged 13, of Yeading - RG12/1021 f.108 p.21
1901/03/31 Brickfield Labourer, aged 22, of The Brambles, 3 Willoughby Road, Langley Marish, Buckinghamshire - RG13/1339 f.139 p.36
1911/04/02 Brickmaker, aged 32 (33?) of (The Gables?), Willoughby Road, Langley, Buckinghamshire - RG14/7837 f.?? p.?? - single, born Hillingdon
1914/??/?? Of The Gables, Willoughby Road, Langley, Bucks. Enlisted Regimental No. 19321, F Company, 3rd Battalion, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
NB: He gave his wife's name as Sarah Elizabeth BLACKWELL. In fact her name was Sarah Charlotte BLACKWELL, but his late mother's name was Elizabeth Sarah BLACKWELL.
191?/??/?? Stationed at Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth
The following letter is addressed to his brother Charles William Blackwell.
A photo taken in Portsmouth accompanied the letter:
Pte D Blackwell Regt No 19321 F Comp 3rd Batt Oxford + Bucks LI Cambridge Barracks Portsmouth Dear Brother
Just a few lines
hoping to find you
all quite well and very
please to tell you I am
in the best of health.
I daresay you was surpr-
ised when you heard I
had enlisted but still
somebody must do it
we get plenty to eat
but the Feathers in our
bed is about six foot long
but they are very early
harvesting down here
Portsmouth is a very nice
place for Holiday making
but I would rather be
near the Harrow Pond
Dear Brother I think I
shall be home on
Saturday next but I
shall only be home
for 48 hours so shall not
have time to come up and
see you but if you can
try and come down to
Langley as I should like
to see you all for I
dont suppose it will be
many weeks before we
go away but I hope
they will kill all the
Germans before I get out
there as I am such a bad
runner we have been in
the trenches on a bayonet
charge sticking bags of
straw the same kind
of stuff has our beds
are made of. Well Charlie
when you write be sure
and put the right address
as so many letters get lost
Well Brother I dont think
I have much more to say
this time as I have to get
ready for a route march
tomorrow and the bugle
will soon sound for
lights out for there is
no losing a quarter here
I hope that Lou and
the family are all well
and hoping to see you
all when I come home
I will try and send
you my photo later on
with love to all I
Remain your Loving
Brother Dan
191?/??/?? Embarked from Southampton
1915/12/17 Entry into FWW theatre of war
1916/10/31 At front line observation post
1918/03/21 Aged 37, 'Death accepted' stated on Death Certificate.
His name is commemorated on panel 50/51 of the Pozieres Memorial under the 2nd/4th Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. No known grave.
Never saw his son Len. Currently, there are three BLACKWELL daughters attributed to Daniel. This appears to be because there is evidence of their existence in the Langley area, and all other families are fully accounted for. This will need to be confirmed.
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