Last updated 15:56, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

ON July 27 1916, The Whitehaven News reported extensively on the life and death of Captain Blair.

Of his military exploits, the paper said: “Numerous letters from the men under him attested the affection and admiration which he inspired in battle. In October, 1915, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for conspicuous bravery at Hooge. On one occasion he was attending a wounded soldier while exposed to heavy machine gun and rifle fire. On another, by a clever manoeuvre he accounted for a German officer and 12 men.

“When he came home on leave a month or so later, there was a great public demonstration at the Town Hall, when a magnificent sword was presented to him, which was mainly subscribed for by the men of the Whitehaven Collieries, though their handsome contribution was made to a general public fund for honouring also, on the same occasion, the deceased Pte. Abraham Acton, VC, and Lance-Corporal Bewsher, DCM.”

The Cumberland Coalowners and the Conciliation Board of the Cumberland Coal Trade also made presentations.

The Whitehaven News felt: “It is scarcely to be questioned whether he would not have been doing better for his country managing the Whitehaven collieries than fighting; and we must suppose that had he looked at the matter in that light, he need never have left civil life. But he was a leader of men in the Territorials, as he was a leader of men in the mines. Duty called at first imperiously to the field, and he led his men. Whitehaven has honoured him living, and it will long honour the memory of him now that the familiar form and features and brave kindly smile will be seen no more among us.”

Captain Blair was chairman of the directors of the Whitehaven Brick and Tile Company, President of the Whitehaven Scientific Association from 1913 and succeeded J. M. James as a Whitehaven Harbour Commissioner until the outbreak of the war.

On news of his death, flags were flown at half-mast at the pits of the Whitehaven Colliery, at the Town Hall, and at the Harbour Office, and some tradesmen put up mourning shutters.

He lies in Dranoutre Military Cemetery with the following inscription above his grave: “In Memory of Captain ROBERT CURWEN RICHMOND BLAIR D S O, “A” Coy. 5th Bn,.Border Regiment, who died age 37 on 21 July 1916. Son of John and Nina Blair (née Richmond), of Richmond Hill, Whitehaven. Remembered with honour.”