Son of Lilian Blakey and Frank Ernest Blakey.

Sergeant E. H. Blakey, MM; Maungaturoto; born Auckland, 30 Jun 1901; solicitor; three times wounded. (Source: Cody, J.F. 21 Battalion. p.203.)

'C Company was first to report to Colonel Harding that it was digging in on the objective; then B Company reported that Lieutenant Eady had taken command and was consolidating. Finally A Company was contacted through B Company and said it was reorganising in its appointed area. The success signal was put up at 3 a.m., runners were sent back to Brigade Headquarters with the information, and wireless communication was also established with Brigade. (NZ Engineers, Middle East) At first light (21st) the position at Maleme had altered dramatically to our disadvantage: 22 Battalion, in face of the hostile build-up, was withdrawing, thereby giving the enemy the use of the airfield—if the guns and mortars still in action could be silenced or if the risk was accepted of landing under fire. There had been little sleep for NZE Detachment for there were still pockets of enemy around; one party tried to enter a post where Corporal Blakey had taken the precaution of providing himself with a supply of German grenades. The visitors departed, leaving behind a Spandau as a memento of the occasion. The German Command, making the best of an ugly situation, had decided to concentrate everything on Maleme, where the chances of securing a landing ground seemed less remote. The morning was thus a time of reorganisation and it was not until about 4 p.m. that more paratroops were dropped among the NZE Detachment—this time on 19 Army Troops and the adjoining Maori Battalion. Sergeant E. H. Blakey, MM; Maungaturoto; born Auckland, 30 Jun 1901; barrister and solicitor; three times wounded. After Lieutenant West-Watson had been wounded, D Company lost formation in the dust and murk behind the assaulting troops. Corporal McManus gathered up as many of 17 Platoon as he could and led them forward. Sergeant Blakey took command of 18 Platoon when Second-Lieutenant Stranger was wounded. When he arrived at the objective McManus had only five men with him, but after scouting around found fragments of 16 and 18 Platoons. Lieutenant Robertson then arrived with part of 16 Platoon and merged the lot into one platoon, with McManus the sole NCO; there were 23 men altogether.' (Source: Cody, J.F. 21 Battalion. p. 203.; Cody, J.F. NZ Engineers, Middle East. pp. 144-145.) AWMM