A Life From Titanic
Thomas Henry Blake (c.1875-1912) was an English merchant seaman and fireman aboard the RMS Titanic. Born in St. Tessel, Cornwall, England, he was the son of Guy Blake, a gardener, and Harriet Henwood. During his early years, the family lived in Somerset and later Bristol, where Thomas initially worked alongside his father as a gardener's assistant before turning to a life at sea. By 1901, Blake was living in Woolwich, London, employed as a ship's fireman. In 1904, he married Alice Finch Smith in Southampton, and together they had three children: Gladys Marjorie Phyllis, Frank Reginald, and David Henry. The family resided at 35 Peel Street, Northam, Southampton, where Blake worked steadily for the White Star Line. On 6 April 1912, Blake signed onto the Titanic after being transferred from the RMS Oceanic. Serving as a fireman, his demanding duties involved shoveling coal into the ship's boilers to maintain steam power for the engines. He earned monthly wages of 6GBP for the voyage. Thomas Henry Blake perished in the sinking of the Titanic on 15 April 1912 at the age of 36. His body was never identified. He is commemorated on the memorial at St. Augustine's Church in Northam, Southampton. His widow, Alice, never remarried and continued raising their children in Southampton after his death.
Thomas Henry Blake perished with 1,517 other souls that night. May their memories live on.