Pte Ballantyne Blake, 269159, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, was reported missing, on July 31st, 1917, following the battle of St Julien. It was nearly a year later that widow Ada Blake was officially told the War Office had concluded that he was killed on or soon after that date.

A comrade had said he saw Pte Blake shot through the head by a machine gun bullet, and he had been left for dead. No further information had been obtained.

Born in Romford, Essex, in 1876, Ballantyne Blake was a gardener who had moved around the country. His late parents Abel and Ann Blake had been living in Newmarket, while in 1911 Ballantyne was working near Lichfield in Staffordshire.

He had married Ada Kate Farrow at St Cuthbert's Church, Thetford, Norfolk, on May 4th, 1905, and they had a son, Cyril Henry, born in January 1907.

After arriving in Luton, the family lived at 58 Stuart Street, and before joining up in August 1916 he had been working for Boots, the chemists. He went to France in December 1916.

While awaiting news of her husband's fate, Ada moved to live with her sister at 33 Stuart Street. She later moved to 88 Wellington Street, the address given for Pte Blake on the Luton Roll of Honour.