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Robert Henry Blake

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File:Blake Robert Henry.jpg
Personal Information
Date of Birth 9 Jun 1880
Place of Birth Wentworth, New South Wales
Death 1 Sep 1960, aged 80
Place of Death Ravensthorpe, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment 35 years, 6 months
Description 5'5½" (1.66m) tall; weight 123 lbs (55.8 kg); medium complexion, blue eyes, brown hair.
Occupation grocer's assistant
Religion Church of England
Address NOK Mundijong, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father Mr Andrew James Blake
Military Information
Reg Number 6052
Date of Enlistment 4 Feb 1916
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 28th Battalion, 17th Reinforcement / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation 9 Nov 1916 - 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Date of Return 16 Jun 1919 - 24 Jul 1919
Ship Returned On RMS Ormonde
Fate Returned to Australia
Monument Mundijong
Medals British War Medal
Victory Medal


Pre War

Electoral Roll entries - 1910 coach driver in Norseman; 1916 a labourer in Norseman. Enlisted in Esperence.

War Service

On joining the Blackboy Hill camp, Robert spends several months in depot Companies before being allocated on 11 Aug 1916 to the 23rd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion, later on 4 September changed to the 22nd draft, and later again to the 17th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion.

On arrival in England Robert was sent to the 7th Training battalion at Rollestone. While training with them, on 14 Mar 1917 he was admitted to Park House hospital with mumps. Recovered on 1 Apr 1917, he was sent overseas to France on 25 Apr 1917.

On 3 May 1917 he was one of 132 men taken on strength by the 28th Battalion which participated in an attack on German Hindenberg Line on 3/4 May near Noreuil known as 2nd Bullecourt. Over the next 48 hour the battalion suffered 169 casualties.

Apart from leave in England during February 1918, to Paris in October 1918 and a short spell in hospital with Myalgia from 16 - 22 Aug 1917, Robert remained with the battalion until he returned to Australia.

Discharged at 5th Military District 31 Aug 1919.

Post War

In early 1920 at Esperance Robert married Jane H Gibson. Electoral Roll entries - 1925 a grazier at Munglinup; 1937 - 1958 a pastoralist at Ravensthorpe.

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