Charles Edwin Blacker 1913-1942, age 28

Barnsley Chronicle
With thanks to Barnsley Archives

Born: 1913 in Barnsley Q4

Son of: Joseph Thomas Blacker and Lilian Blacker nee Burkinshaw, formerly Wootton. They married in Barnsley in 1904 Q3. It was the second marriage for both of them, having lost their previous partners at a very young age. Lily, born in 1875 in Darton, had 2 children from her previous marriage. Joseph (1869-1947, died age 78) was a miner, born in Darton. The couple had at least 9 children, and three of these were killed in WW2.

• Joseph H Wootton 1900 -1941, died in WW2 age 41.
• Mary Hannah Blacker 1900
• Harriet A Wootton 1902 
• Thomas Harold Wootton Blacker 1903-1990, died age 87
• Doris Blacker 1906
• Phyllis Evelyn Blacker 1908
• Rhoda Blacker 1910 
• Charles Edwin Blacker 1913-1942, died in WW2 age 28.
• Leslie Blacker 1916-1943, died age 27. Leslie was killed in WW2. He was a Corporal in Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) service number 2763258. 

Husband of: Dorothy Beatrice Blacker nee Mosley. Charles and Dorothy married in 1940.  

Military Service: Charles was a Steward in the Royal Navy, serving on H.M.S. Indomitable, service number P/LX 26507.

H.M.S.Indomitable played a vital role in relieving the Seige of Malta in Operation Pedestal which took place on 10th to 12th August 1942. Details of the Operation can be found *here* 
The Aircraft Carrier H.M.S. Indomitable was hit by a number of bombs on 12th August 1942 which resulted in 6 officers and 44 crew being killed. Charles was amongst them. 59 men were also injured.

Death: Charles was killed as a result of enemy action on 12th August 1942. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his date of death as 14th August, but other sources record it as 12th August 1942. *here*

Remembered: Charles has no known grave but is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial panel 70, column 1. Charles and his brother Leslie are remembered on the Barnsley British Cooperative Society memorial tablet at Cooperative Funeralcare, Huddersfield Road, Barnsley.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission link: *here*  

The Barnsley Chronicle reported:

Barnsley Steward's Death

On Active Service

The many friends of Steward Charles E. Blacker (29) 37, Bradbury Street, Barnsley who was a well known local runner and formerly a member of the Barnsley and District Harriers, will be sorry to learn of his death whilst on active service. Mrs Blacker received the news on Monday in a telegram and on Tuesday she received a letter confirming the telegram. The letter said that the ship in which he was serving was on convoy duty. "Please allow me to express on behalf of officers and men of the Royal Navy, the high traditions of which your husband helped to maintain, sincere sympathy with you in your sad bereavement," the letter reads. 
Steward Blacker has been in the Navy two years and was formerly employed at the B.B.C.S. Warehouse, Summer lane. He has also served on H.M.S. Furious and had been to Russia and Finland.