Cuthbert Patrick Blake

Commander (retired) SIR Cuthbert Patrick Blake, Bart., D.S.O., R.N. (2 January, 1885 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

His cousin, Lionel George Dawson, also served in destroyers in the Great War. In fact, they were both considered for command of the new destroyer Termagant in 1916. The assignment would go to Blake, and earn him his D.S.O. for his service in the Battle of Jutland.

Life & Career

Born in Pimlico, Blake gained three months' time on passing out of Britannia. He served in Juno in the Channel Squadron from September 1901 to 25 November 1902 when he was appointed to Bacchante in the Mediterranean. He was ordered home from the Mediterranean on New Year's Day, 1905.

Blake was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 4 April, 1907.

Blake was appointed to the third class protected cruiser Pandora in October, 1910 and was noted for having contributed to good Battle Practice results in the ship in 1911.

Blake received his first ship command opportunity when he was appointed in command of the first-class torpedo boat T.B. 17 in late March, 1913. He was loaned in mid-year to Ariadne for the annual manoeuvres and left T.B. 17 when he was appointed in command of the destroyer Porcupine on 13 January, 1914.

Blake was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1915.

As a Lieutenant-Commander, Blake commanded the destroyer Termagant on temporary assignment with the Thirteenth Destroyer Flotilla at the Battle of Jutland. He was gazetted on 15 September 1916 for his services in the battle for gallantly pressing home a torpedo attack on the enemy battle cruisers after defeating the German destroyers who had rushed into the middle ground at the same time. He was decorated with the D.S.O. by the King on 2 December, 1916.

In 1918, Blake was thanked by the Admiralty for his anti-submarine work near the river Tees.

Post-War

Blake succeeded to the Baronetcy of Blake of Langham upon the death of his father on 1 October, 1920.

Blake was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 3 January, 1928.

World War II

Blake was mobilised on 28 September, 1938. He was sent to Liverpool to work with the Naval Officer in Charge and W.P.S. of the N.W. Area. In 1939 he was made the Service Equipment Officer on the staff of the Flag Officer in Charge, Liverpool. In mid-1943 he started work as Service Equipment Officer at the Radar School at Brighton. He finally reverted to the Retired List in February, 1944.

See Also

• Service Records
• Thirteenth D.F. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Henry D. Simonds	Captain of H.M. T.B. 17 27 Mar, 1913 – 13 Jan, 1914	Succeeded by Terence A. F. Longford
Preceded by Charles E. Hamond	Captain of H.M.S. Porcupine 13 Jan, 1914 – 4 Dec, 1915	Succeeded by Reginald G. Pardoe
Preceded by Claude B. Evans	Captain of H.M.S. Liffey 4 Dec, 1915 – 1 Mar, 1916	Succeeded by Alan M. Yeats-Brown
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Termagant 1 Mar, 1916 – Oct, 1917	Succeeded by Montague R. Bernard
Preceded by Montague R. Bernard	Captain of H.M.S. Mohawk c. Oct, 1917 – 30 Nov, 1918	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Louis H. K. Hamilton	Captain of H.M.S. Taurus 27 Jan, 1919 – 23 Jul, 1919	Succeeded by Lionel G. Foote
Preceded by Lionel G. Foote	Captain of H.M.S. Oracle 23 Jul, 1919 – 1 Oct, 1919	Succeeded by Russell Grenfell
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Sardonyx 1 Oct, 1919 – 3 Mar, 1920	Succeeded by James C. N. MacMillan
Preceded by Francis G. Glossop	Captain of H.M.S. Westminster 12 Apr, 1920 – 1 Sep, 1920	Succeeded by Martin J. C. de Meric
Preceded by Hugh B. Wrey	Captain of H.M.S. Stronghold 16 Feb, 1924 – 29 Aug, 1924	Succeeded by Trevor St. V. F. Tyler