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1866 |
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Madeleine Temple Mackness born in Woking, Surrey, England |
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1874 |
11 November |
David Blair born in Newport on the Isle of Wight. |
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1890 |
March |
Begins apprenticeship with H Fernie & Sons Liverpool at age 15. |
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3/3 - 30/4/1891 |
Apprentice on the Cypromene, Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (1 year, 1 month 9 days) |
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1891 |
04/9 - 5/7/1892 |
Apprentice on the Philomene, Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (10 months, 4 days) |
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1892 |
23/9 - 24/10 |
Apprentice on the Aristomene, Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (1 year, 1 month, 2 days) |
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1893 |
17/12 - 26/2/1895 |
Apprentice on the Aritstomene Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (1 year, 2 months, 9 days) |
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1895 |
26/2 - 19/3 |
AB on the Aristomene Liverpool registered square rig sailing ship (22 days) |
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25/3 - 19/8 |
AB on the Howth, Dublin registered square rig sailing ship (4 months, 25 days) |
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19 August |
"On shore at school" |
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19 November |
Applies for Second Mate and fails in "navigation" |
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1896 |
14 February |
Blair writes a letter to the Examiner of Masters and Mates in Dundee requesting to resit his exam. |
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17 February |
Passes second attempt at Second Mate in Dundee, issued 22/2/1896 |
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18/5 - 23/9 |
SS Baltazan 4 months 6 days foreign, second mate, "in charge of watch" |
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16/11 - 15/3/1897 |
SS Pindari, 4 months, foreign trade, third mate |
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1897 |
16/3 - 20/7 |
SS Ameer 4 months 5 days, foreign trade, third mate "in charge of a watch" |
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21/7 - 22/11 |
SS Ameer, 4 months 2 days |
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29/11 |
In Dundee, passes First Mate certificate |
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24/11 - 22/3/98 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 3 months 27 day |
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1898 |
21/4 - 17/8 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 3 months 28 days |
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24/8 - 13/12 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 3 month 20 days |
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14/12 - 24/4 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 4 months 11 days |
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28/4 - 4/9 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 4 months 7 days |
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1899 |
5/9 - 6/5/00 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 8 months 2 days |
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1900 |
24/5 - 29/12 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 7 months 6 days |
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1901 |
31/1 - 30/4 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 3 months |
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1/5 - 4/11 |
SS Ameer, third mate, 6 months 7 days |
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10/12 |
Applies for and passes Masters Certificate exam in Leith, Edinburgh |
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1902 |
22/1 |
Joins White Star Line |
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1902 |
22/1 - 7/02 |
Doric, 4th officer |
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July - March 1904 |
Doric, third officer |
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1904 |
March |
Doric Second officer |
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7/5 - 24/10 |
Doric |
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1904 |
12th July |
Blair appointed sub lieutenant in RNR and begins regular 7 day drills |
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1905 |
22 June |
The San Francisco Call reports Blair as second officer aboard the Doric, requested to be ordered home to England to marry |
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2 September |
David Blair and Madeline Temple Mackness were marrie in Broughty Ferry, Scotland. |
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21/9 - 22/1/06 |
Gothic - Navy records state that he "was appointed 2nd mate of the Gothic of White Star Line sailing London to New Zealand" |
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1906 |
19/7 - 2/11 |
Armenian, second officer - New Zealand |
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2/11 - 5/9/07 |
Cufic, First officer - Australia |
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1907 |
5/9 - 1/10/07 |
Celtic, 2nd officer - New York |
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10/10 - 18/10 |
Drill |
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18/10 - 21/11 |
Cevic 2nd officer |
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21/11 - 28/12 |
Drill |
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28/12 - 14/1/08 |
Cevic, First officer |
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1908 |
14/1 - 22/1 |
Oceanic, Third officer |
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3/2/08 - 13/2/08 |
Cufic - standby (third officer) |
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13/2 - 4/4 |
Georgic - 2nd officer |
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4/4 - 30/9 |
Canopic 2nd officer |
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10/10 - 14/11 |
Drill |
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14/11 - 22/1/09 |
HMS Excellent "Gunnery & Torpoedo" training marked "VG" |
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1909 |
1/2 - 26/3 |
HMS Vernon -marked "VG" |
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21/4 - 24/1/10 |
HMS Dominion training marked "VG" |
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1910 |
|
Blair's daughter, Elizabeth Nancy Blair, born |
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25/1 - 20/4 |
HMS Dominion |
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21 April |
Promoted to Lieutenant in RNR |
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24/4 - 22/3/11 |
Teutonic 2nd Officer |
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1911 |
22/3 - 28/6 |
Majestic 2nd Officer |
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28/6 - 15/7 |
Drill |
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15/7 - 11/11 |
Majestic 2nd Officer |
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29/11 - 5/2/12 |
Teutonic 2nd Officer |
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1912 |
5/2 - 26/3 |
Majestic 2nd Officer |
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26/3 - 10/4 |
Titanic 2nd Officer |
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4 April |
Writes postcard to sister in law while Titanic's 2nd Officer |
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10/4 - 7/1/13 |
Majestic 2nd Officer |
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Wednesday 29 May |
David Blair, second officer, Majestic, photographed looking very happy with chief officer Harry Dyke |
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26/11 - 17/12 |
Holiday leave from WSL |
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1913 |
7/1 - 11/1 |
Teutonic 2nd Officer |
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11/1 - 12/2 |
Sick leave |
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12/2 - 12/3 |
Teutonic, First Officer |
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12/3 - 28/7 |
Majestic First Officer |
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6th May |
Blair dives into North Atlantic to save the life of 27 year old coal trimmer, William Keon. |
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10th June |
The Royal Humane Society awards David Blair a "bronze medal of the Society" presented by Admiral Sir George Digby Morant. |
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12th July |
Blair also awarded a King's Medal, according to The Times of the 12th of July 1913 |
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28/7 - 1/1/1914 |
Oceanic 2nd Officer |
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1914 |
1/1 - 19/1 |
Holiday leave |
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19/1 - 2/2 |
Drill |
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2/2 - 11/7 |
Oceanic 2nd Officer |
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11/7/14 - 24/6/19 |
White Star Line service record lists "Navy" |
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8th September |
HMS Oceanic grounded on reef at Foula while Blair was second officer and navigating, resulting in the complete loss of the ship and a courtmartial |
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1915 |
26/5 - 19/5/16 |
In "charge of Naval Sub Base at Penzance and then a year aboard the HMS Dreel Castle, an Auxiliary Patrol Base at Falmouth, Cornwall. |
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1917 |
1/5 - 15/3/19 |
Dreel Castle (as S.N.O Penzance) |
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20th December |
Receives a confidential letter from the Home Secretary to inform him that "in view of the service you have rendered on work connected with the War, it is proposed to submit your name to the King for appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire" |
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1918 |
13th February |
"King held an Investiture of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire at 10.30 o'clock this morning. The following were severally introduced into the presence of His Majesty ...The King invested them with the Insignia of the respective Divisions of the Order into which they have been admitted: OFFICERS Lieutenant-Commander David BLAIR, R.N.R." |
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21/4 |
Promoted to Lieutenant Commander |
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29th of August |
Awarded the French Cross of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour |
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1919 |
19th of March |
Officially awarded Royal Naval Reserve Decoration |
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15/4 |
Navy records state "London Gazette 15.4.19 transferred as Officer to the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire |
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24/6 - 13/8/20 |
Haverford, Chief Officer |
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1920 |
13/8 - 18/9 |
Holiday leave |
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18/9 - 14/2/21 |
Haverford, Chief Officer |
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1921 |
14 February |
Resigns from the White Star Line, retiring as Commander |
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1923 |
16/6 |
Employed as commanding officer on a steam yacht St George belonging to the Research Expeditions |
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1924 |
2/4 - 19/9/1925 |
In command of St George steam yacht scientific expedition cruise to the South Seas |
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1925 |
31/10 |
Still in command of St Geroge which is temporarily laid up, Dartmouth |
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16/12 |
Is not retaining command of St George |
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1926 |
20/4 |
Listed as "not attached to any vessel but expects to proceed to sea shortly" |
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1928 |
19/3 |
Residing in Panama and has "lately been cruising on the coast" |
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1936 |
29/6 |
Navy report: "Until end of 1935 was in command of large yacht voyaging to South Seas. Has returned to England" |
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1947 |
14/5 |
Navy report: "employed on lecturing at L.C.C.Institute" |
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1948 |
3/11 |
Navy report: "Not fit for service, owing to decling age and medically unfit" |
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1950 |
10th May |
Wife of 45 years, Madeleine, dies at the age of 84 years |
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Marries Vera Mabel Crump (c.1907 - 1960) in Harrow District, Middlesex. Born circa 1907 she was 33 years younger than him and only three years older than his daughter. |
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20/5 |
Navy report: "no occupation at present" |
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1951 |
22/6 |
Navy report: "lectures on Travels & Shipping generally" |
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1955 |
10 January |
David Blair dies in Edgware General Hospital, Hendon, Greater London, Middlesex. He was 80 years old. |
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30 March |
Blair's estate was probated |
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1960 |
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Second wife Vera dies |
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2007 |
22nd September |
Blair's key to the crows nest sold for £90,000. |
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1995 |
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Blair's daughter, Elizabeth Nancy Blair, born in 1910 to his first marriage with Madeleine, dies aged 85, in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland |
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2011 |
19 March |
Blair's medals including an OBE for war service and a sea gallantry medal, sold at Derbyshire's Hansons Auctioneers |