Trafford

Born on the 19th December 1910, the birth being registered during the March
quarter 1911 in the Prestwich R.D. - ref: 8d/368, the son of Robert &
Gertrude Ellen Blackwell (nee Hulme).   Baptised at Culcheth Methodist
Church, Droylsden Road, Newton Heath, Manchester on the 5th February 1911.

1911 Census - 14 Ingham Street, Newton Heath, Manchester.   Son - aged: 3
months - born: Manchester.   Head of household - Robert Blackwell - Married
- aged: 40 - occ: Steel Warehouse Manager - born: Manchester.    Also -
Gertrude Ellen Blackwell - Wife - aged: 40 - born: Manchester.    Plus 2
elder siblings.

1921 Census - 14 Ingham Street, Newton Heath, Manchester.   Son - aged: 10
years, 6 months - born: Manchester.   Head of household - Robert Blackwell
- Married - aged: 50 years 8 months - occ: Iron & Steel Warehouse Manager
for Messrs. C.C. Dunkerley, Store Street, Manchester - born: Manchester.   
Also - Gertrude Ellen Blackwell - Wife - aged: 50 years, 1 month - born:
Manchester.    Plus 2 elder siblings.  His parents were still living at
this address in 1939.

Married Lilian Makin during the September quarter 1939 in the Manchester
R.D. - ref: 8d/691.

1939 National Registration - 3 Norton Park View, Sheffield, Yorkshire.  
Ewart Blackwell - Married - Born on the 19th December 1910 - occ: Insurance
Company Branch Assistant.   Lilian Blackwell - Married - Born on the 5th
February 1910 - occ: Unpaid Domestic Duties.

Post War, Lilian is recorded as residing at 16 Broadoaks Road, Sale.

Manchester Evening News, dated the 14th November 1942 - ROLL OF HONOUR -
Cpl Ewart Blackwell (R.T.R.) died of wounds in the Middle East. Husband of
Lilian of Morton, Sheffield and the younger son of Mr. Mrs. R. Blackwell of
Clayton Bridge, Manchester 10.  Present address: 137 Droylsden Road,
Manchester.

CWGC - Son of Robert & Gertrude Ellen Blackwell; husband of Lilian
Blackwell of Sale.  M.I. - "SECURE FROM WAR'S IARMS HE LIES, HIS HEART IN
ENGLAND AND HIS VALOUR HERE".

Probate - for Ewart Blackwell of 3 Norton Park View, Sheffield granted at
Llandudno on the 22nd December 1942 to Joseph Weathers (Insurance Official)
and to Robert Blackwell (Retired Works Manager)   Estate valued at £1,339.
19. 3d.

The following has been extracted verbatim from the Museum of the
Staffordshire Yeomanry Regimental Museum's website:

In 1939, the Staffordshire Yeomanry was part of the 6th Cavalry Brigade,
1st Cavalry Division. The 6th Cavalry Brigade moved to Palestine in January
1940 and took part in mounted operations with the police to suppress
disturbances between the Arab and Jewish populations.

The Staffordshire Yeomanry retained its horses until 1941, when it
converted to tanks as part of the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) and then
served in North Africa in the 8th Armoured Brigade. At the same time the
emblem of Bass Breweries, a red triangle, was added behind the cap badge.
It is said this was suggested by Major Jim Eadie, who worked for the
Brewery. The Regiment fought throughout the Desert Campaign with a mixture
of Honey, Grant, Crusader and Sherman Tanks.

At the end of November 1942, the brigade came under the command of the 7th
Armoured Division, the famous Desert Rats and was involved in the battles
around El Agheila.

During its time in North Africa, the Staffordshire Yeomanry helped repel
Rommel’s attack on the Alam El Halfa Ridge and also fought at El Alamein,
fighting the Afrika Korps all the way into Tunisia.