Sapper Jabez “Arthur” Blackburn
144816 183rd Company Royal Engineers
Photo: J Arthur Blackburn in 1940 at the wedding of his daughter Evelyn. Courtesy A. Hollis.
Jabez “Arthur” Blackburn was born at Hammersmith, Ripley, Derbyshire about 1878 son of Enoch (b. 1835 Conningsby, Lincs) and Anne Blackburn (nee Walters b. 1858 Pentrich, Derbys) residents of Wood Street, Ripley.
In 1902, Arthur married Codnor Park girl Eveline Leonora Parkin in the Basford District and they had children, Flora b. 1903 who only survived 7 months and is buried at Westwood, St. Mary’s; Leonora b.1907 and Lily b.1909 both in Jacksdale; Leonard b.1911 and Lucy Margaret b.1917 in the Basford area and Evelyn in 1920, born in Doncaster. The 1911 census gives his occupation as coal miner contractor.
He served in Egypt with the Royal Engineers, arriving there in Dec 1915 and was discharged from the army in February 1919. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star and the Victory and British War Medals.
The 1918/19 Absent Voters Roll indicates that Arthur was an absent resident of Main Road, Jacksdale.
He died in 1948 in Nottingham, aged 70.
Arthur’s younger brother Charles Blackburn aged 33 of Ripley married Lilian Butler at Westwood, St. Mary’s in 1919.
Photo: J Arthur Blackburn in 1940, aged approx 62 at the wedding of his daughter Evelyn.