DNA test identifies First World War Essex soldier

The coffin of Private Blake is carried to the grave in Loos British Cemetery Extension (Crown Copyright).

Pte Reginald Joseph Blake, of 11th Battalion The Essex Regiment, was laid to rest on 22 April 2026 at a burial service organised by MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC). The service took place at CWGC Loos British Cemetery Extension, which was opened in September 2024. 

Pte Blake, known as Joe to his family, was born on 14 April 1897 in Tendring, Essex. Following the outbreak of the First World War, he enlisted into The Essex Regiment at Dovercourt and was posted to 11th Battalion. On 21 April 1917 the battalion moved into positions north of Lens in northern France in preparation for an attack the following day. It was during this fighting that Pte Blake went missing. He was 20 years old. As he was missing, Private Blake was commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

Pte Blake’s body was recovered in 2020 during the construction of a new hospital on the outskirts of Lens and he is among many British and Canadian casualties recovered from the site including other men of 11th Battalion The Essex Regiment. It was noted that the soldier appeared to have been young, which allowed JCCC to narrow down a list of potential candidates of men missing from 11th Battalion The Essex Regiment during the period they had fought in the area. DNA testing finally led to the identification of the soldier as being Pte Blake.

JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron said: "It has been a privilege to work with 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment to organise the burial service for Pte Blake today. His family now have answers as to what happened to ‘Uncle Joe’ after nearly 110 years of him being missing. Although his family was not able to join us today, I know that this has been a great comfort to them and has revived his memory. May he now rest in peace alongside his comrades."

Bryan Blake said: "My sister and I believe we are the last remaining relatives of Joe. We are sad that such a young life was taken, and grateful for the dedicated work of the JCCC and CWGC giving the recognition, and final resting place he deserves."

Private Reginald Jospeh Blake (courtesy of the Blake family), Serving soldiers of 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian lay Private Blake to rest (Crown Copyright).

The services were supported by serving soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment and were conducted by their Chaplain, the Reverend Joseph Roberts CF. A Trumpeter from The Band of The Royal Yorkshire Regiment also supported the services.

Reverend Joseph Roberts CF said: “The Essex Regiment’s lineage lives on within the 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, which makes it an even greater privilege, and a deeply solemn honour (as their chaplain) to conduct this burial for Pte Blake. Standing alongside personnel of Essex Company, who continue to carry this proud identity forward, we recognise the significance of laying him to rest with comrades who also made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms and liberties we cherish. Today, we ensure that Pte Blake’s story is remembered with honour and with gratitude. May he abide in eternal peace.” 

CWGC Director of Commemorations, Richard Hills said: “It has been an honour for the Commemorations Department to support the historical research, which made it possible to identify Private Reginald Blake more than a century after he was killed in action. Today’s ceremony stands as a powerful reminder that our duty endures, and our work continues and is as important today as when we were first founded. Private Blake’s grave will be cared for with dignity and respect, in perpetuity.”

Later in the afternoon, an unknown soldier was also buried at CWGC Loos British Cemetery Extension having been found near Arras. A day earlier on the 21 April, a burial service was held at CWGC Warlencourt British Cemetery for another unknown soldier found on the Somme.