[1] He attended the Nelson School in Yarmouth and joined the 2nd Norfolk Regiment of the British Army at the age of fourteen, serving in several overseas countries, leading to his 'Bandsman' title which stuck throughout his career.

[1][2] Georges Carpentier, writing for the People's Journal in January 1914, was highly complimentary of Blake, describing him as a "most promising man", and having "the right stuff in him...the right temperament".

[4] In August 1914, after the outbreak of World War I, Blake put both his boxing career and his forthcoming marriage on hold and rejoined the 2nd Norfolk Regiment.

[6] Blake was still unbeaten at middleweight and won fights against Nicol Simpson and Harry Reeve before losing to Pat O'Keeffe in May 1915.

[10] Blake lost to Army champion Corporal Tooley of the Grenadier Guards in April 1918, and his final fight was a win by fourth-round knockout against Arthur Cameron in 1921.