Page 66 - ‘A Blaker Family History’ The family history of Joseph Blaker (1916-2007; ‘Joe’)

© The Blaker Society
© The Blaker Society

‘Alf’ Blaker & Mary Ann Martin: Unknown Date

‘Alf’ and Mary had seven children, all of whom were born in
Norwood/West Norwood, Surrey:
• Mary Ann: b. 1904
• Alfred John: b. 1907
• James Edward: b. 1909
• Emily Maud: b. 1911
• Beatrice: b. 1914
• Joseph: b. 1916
• Lily: b. 1922

Mary Ann Blaker with Six of Her Children: c. 1917 – Joseph on Her Knee

‘Alf’ worked as a ‘Carman’ –i.e. as a haulier or carter – in his early married
life and then became employed by the local Council as a ‘Road Repairer
and Labourer’.

‘Alf’ and Mary Ann were recorded in the 1911 Census, living with their
first 3 children, in 3 rooms at 4a Eaton Cottages, Ernest Street, Norwood.

‘Alf’ joined the Army in 1915 and served in the ‘Labour Battalion of the

Royal West Surrey Regiment’. He did not rise beyond the rank of private -
his Regimental Number was 20146.

Cap Badge, Royal West Surrey Regiment

During his military service, ‘Alf’ was posted to Constantinople, and served
in Turkey and Palestine. He was posted as ‘Missing in Action’ and this left
Mary Ann with a young family to look after with no income or certainty of
the future. In order to ensure that her family was “Saved from the
Workhouse”, Mary Ann worked 12 hour shifts at a local laundry. It must
have been a hard and very worrying time. We can only imagine the sweat
and tears, and wonder how her children were looked after whilst Mary
Ann worked.

Fortunately, ‘Alf’ was not dead. He had suffered a severe bout of malaria,
and had been in a deep fever for an extended time, during which he was
cared for by local people. ‘Alf’ eventually returned home – to the relief of
his family, parents and siblings. The effect of his malaria infection
remained with him through life – he always felt cold, and would often sit
close to an open fire – even in the heat of an English summer.

On his return to 7 Auckland Place, West Norwood, ‘Alf’ obtained
employment as a ‘Labourer’ with the local Council, a job that he retained