Died: of wounds
Address / Local links: 27 Warwick Road, Welling
Family / Relatives: Son of James Henry and Maud Blunt of Welling
Local Papers / Websites: BHO 16th June 1944
Other Information: Welling Boys’ Central School pupil. A Carpenter and Joiner. Welling ARP
James Robin Blunt was born in Hackney on 19 December 1919. He was baptised at Christ Church South Hackney on February 1st 1920.
His parents were James Henry and Maud (nee Rolls) Blunt and they lived at 38, Mare Street in Hackney. James Henry Blunt was an Arsenal worker as a small arms inspector. James Henry Blunt had fought in WW1 and had a long army career with the Rifle Brigade and the Northampton Regiment from 1902 until 1916. He served in Malta and Egypt and at the start of WW1 was part of the British Expeditionary Force. He was wounded in the thigh in November 1914 and eventually discharged as being unfit for duty in September 1916. He married Maud Rolls at the Hackney Registry Office in July 1915.
James Robin had one older sister Edith Maud Blunt who was born in 1916.
The family later moved to 27, Warwick Road in Welling. James Robin was educated at Welling Boys Central School and afterwards served an apprenticeship to become a carpenter and Joiner. In 1939 he was a member of the Bexley ARP at the Welling Station and was a member of the Demolition Squad.
It is interesting to note that Eric Blackshaw, also remembered here on the EWWWMT WW2 memorial role, was obviously a close friend of James Robin as they lived at the same address in 1939 and shared the same career path and interests which included the Welling Cooperative Dramatic Society.
James Robin Blunt was called to service in the Army and by 1944 had risen to the rank of Sargeant in the 2nd. Battalion Somerset Light Infantry.
The 2nd Somersets formed part of the 28th Infantry Brigade, and they arrived in Italy in March 1944 and served in the Italian Campaign as part of the British 8th Army. They fought in many battles such as that of Monte Cassino, one of the worst battles of the Italian Campaign. Between 17 January and 18 May Monte Cassino and the Gustav line was attacked on four occasions by Allied troops. The Regiment was in action from 11th May and James Robin received his wounds on 12 May 1944.
He later died of his wounds on 2nd June 1944.
James Robin Blunt’s resting place is at the Naples War Cemetery where he was finally buried on 19 September 1944. His headstone has this inscription.
GREATER LOVE THAN THIS
HATH NO MAN
THAT HE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE
FOR HIS FRIENDS
The 65th and 92nd General Hospitals were in Naples from late in 1943 until the end of the war, also the 67th General Hospital for the greater part of this time. The site for the cemetery was chosen in November 1943 and burial were made in it from hospitals and garrison. Later graves were brought in from a number of small cemeteries in the immediate vicinity – James Robin was one of those.
Naples War Cemetery contains 1,202 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
Pictured, along with the local press cutting, are Welling Central School, ARP exercises at Welling Corner, Naples War Cemetery and James Blunt’s headstone there.
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If anyone is able to add any extra information, provide more family details, or suggest any corrections, please let us know – also, if anyone has any more photos of this individual listed on our memorials, please get in touch. Thank you.
Commemorated
- Welling War Memorial
- Naples War Cemetery, Italy
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to James Robin Blunt, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.