Percival Albert Blake was a trimmer onboard the RMS Titanic when it sank on April 15th, 1912. He survived the disaster.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Percival Albert “Nunk” Blake was born on October 16th, 1889 in Winchester, Hampshire, England.
He was the son of Edwin Oscar Blake and Clara Cartwright. His father and mother, who were natives of Winchester and Guildford, Surrey respectively, and had married in 1885, after which they would have six children, three of whom died in infancy.
Titanic[]
When Percival signed on to the Titanic in Southampton on April 6th, 1912 he gave his address within Southampton, Hampshire. And although his family were still living at 18 Endle Street. He had transferred from the RMS Olympic to become a trimmer, he then began receiving monthly wages of £5, s10.
When the Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14th, she started to sink. Percival survived the sinking of the ship, escaping in an aft lifeboat, presumably lifeboat 15 with a man named Ernest Allen. His boat arrived at the RMS Carpathia in the morning of April 15, and the rescue ship headed to New York.
When he showed up to both the American and British Inquiries. He wasn’t required to provide evidence into his escape in the disaster. He then ended up receiving charges of £9, s7 after he was detained at the latter inquiry.
Later Life[]
Following the disaster. It is believed Percival continued working with the White Star Line for a while, before later working land-based jobs. He later gained the nickname “Nunk” by his family, and by the 1939 Census, he was living at 120 Caldbeck Street in Sutton, Surrey, England and was described as an unmarried blacksmith's worker.
Death[]
Percival Blake's last address, as per his probate, was 50 Meadowbank Road, Fareham, Hampshire, England. He died aged 78 on 15 September 1968 and was cremated at Portchester Crematorium, Portsmouth on 20 September; his ashes were scattered in section North Border, post 3/4. His probate, dated 28 October 1968 lists his effects at totaling £3736. He left behind his sister Millicent and several nieces and nephews. Millicent passed away just two years later in 1970.