A Somer's Day

George and Cyril Blake were born in Trinidad, probably in the late 1890s, they both served in the British Merchant Navy during the first world war.

After the first world war they came to live in the United Kingdom some time between 1918 and 1920s.

Cyril and George(George was also known as ‘Happy Blake) were great musicians, and they played with a great group of musicians called ‘The Southern Syncopated Orchestra .

The Southern Syncopated Orchestra played all over the UK including Buckingham Palace,and abroad,there were many great musicians in the Southern syncopated orchestra including Sidney Bechet, Joe Smith,Will Marion Cook (composer)

On the 9th October 1921 several members of the Southern Syncopated Orchestra died when the ship SS Rowan (on which they were travelling to perform a concert in Dublin) collided with the American steamer West Carnak(?) in heavy fog.

It is said that around 35 passengers died when the Rowan sank,and…