Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edith BLAKE was born in Redfern, Sydney in 1886

Her parents were Charles BLAKE & Catherine CANHAM

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 26th February....Edith Blake was born at Redfern, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1885.

Edith Blake received her Certificate of Nursing from The Coast Hospital, Sydney (now Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, Sydney, NSW) on 15th November, 1912 after four years training.

Staff Nurse Edith Blake embarked from Sydney, NSW on 4th April, 1915 on RMS Malwa after joining the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Q.A.I.M.N.S.) (2/Reserve B/498) in response to the British requesting 200 Australian Nurses. She arrived in Egypt from Australia for Imperial Service on 4th May, 1917.

Staff Nurse Edith Blake’s Medical Index Card shows she entered a Theatre of War – Egypt on 2nd May, 1915.

Staff Nurse Edith Blake was on duty at 17th General Hospital, Alexandria in January, 1916.

Staff Nurse Edith Blake embarked on Wandilla on 1st October, 1916 to join Essequibo at Mudros. She joined Essequibo at Mudros on 5th October, 1916.

Staff Nurse Edith Blake was transferred from Hospital Ship Essequibo to the Prisoners of War Hospital, Belmont, Surrey on 1st May, 1917. Staff Nurse Blake arrived at Prisoners of War Hospital, Belmont for duty on 1st May, 1917 along with Staff Nurse A. M. Sortwell, Staff Nurse K. Cameron & Staff Nurse R. R. Beresford.

Edith Blake wrote to Miss Beecher on 21st April, 1917 stating “I wrote to you on the 18th inst. asking if I may have home duty. I had instructions from the Hospital Ship Essequibo to go to Dover for passage to France on the 20th. On arriving I received orders to go back to Liverpool & report to the Officer Commanding. I am told now that we may be sent to Salonika. May I have home or French duty instead? As I do not feel inclined to take up more duty in the East. I am an Australian & left Sydney on 4th April, 1915. Commenced duty in Egypt May 2nd 1915 & left Alexandria October 1st 1916 to join the H.M.A.S. Essequibo.

Staff Nurse Edith Blake departed for duty on Hospital Ship Glenart Castle on 13th November, 1917 from Liverpool, England.

Staff Nurse Edith Blake was reported “Missing believed Drowned” in the loss of H.M.H.S. Glenart Castle on 26th February, 1918 when the Hospital Ship was torpedoed & sunk by a German Uboat.
Staff Nurse Edith Blake’s death was accepted on 11th July, 1918, for official purposes, as having occurred on the 26th February, 1918.

Staff Nurse Edith Blake is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as she has no grave. Her death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

[From Wikipedia
On 26 February 1918, Glenart Castle was leaving Newport, South Wales, heading towards Brest, France. Fishermen in the Bristol Channel saw her clearly lit up as a hospital ship. John Hill — a fisherman on Swansea Castle — remembered "I saw the Hospital Ship with green lights all around her – around the saloon. She had her red side lights showing and mast-head light, and also another red light which I suppose was the Red Cross light." At 04:00, Glenart Castle was hit by a torpedo in the No. 3 hold. The blast destroyed most of the lifeboats, while the subsequent pitch of the vessel hindered attempts to launch the remaining boats. In the eight minutes the ship took to sink, only seven lifeboats were launched. Rough seas and inexperienced rowers swamped most of the boats.

Only 32 survivors were reported. A total of 162 people were killed, including the Captain — Bernard Burt, eight nurses of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service, seven Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) medical officers and 47 medical orderlies. Of the hospital patients being treated on board, a total of 99 died. The matron of Glenart Castle, Miss Kate Beaufoy (1868–1918), was among those killed in the sinking. Beaufoy was a veteran of the South African War and the Gallipoli campaign. Her family kept her diary and her writings describe life on the ship.

Evidence was found suggesting that the submarine may have shot at initial survivors of the sinking in an effort to cover up the sinking of Glenart Castle. The body of a junior officer of Glenart Castle was recovered from the water close to the position of the sinking. It was marked with two gunshot wounds, one in the neck and the other in the thigh. The body also had a life vest indicating he was shot while in the water.]

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/-a---b.html

Previously at the Coast Hospital, Sydney NSW before volunteering for service.
Appointed 04 April 1915 and embarked for Egypt
Duty at 17 General Hospital January 1916
Embarked 'Wandilla' to Mudros 01 October 1916

Joined ship 'Essequibo' at Mudros 05 October 1916
To 21 General Hospital Temporary duty 27 December 1916
Rejoined 'Essquibo' 14 January 1917
Transferred to Prisoners of War Hospital, Belmont Surrey 01 May 1917
Served on Glenart Castle Hospital ship & a year to nursing German prisoners of war at Belmont, Surrey.
Duty on 'Glenart Castle' 13 November 1917
Missing believed drowned at sea on board 'Glenart Castle' when the ship was Torpedoed 26 February 1918
Commemorated Hollybrook, Memorial, Southampton, England
Aged 32 years
Personal effects forwarded to Mr and Mrs. Catherine BLAKE
Of Vista Street, Sans Souci, Sydney, NSW
Contained Nurses Clothing, 2 dresses, quantity books and records, quantity souvenirs, photographs, view, metal trays and fancy table cloths, trinket boxes, ornaments, brooches, necklaces, letters.