Robert Henry Blake
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | not known |
| Place of Birth | Wentworth, New South Wales |
| Death | 1 Sep 1960, aged 78 |
| 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 1920 at Esperance Robert married Jane H Gibson. Electoral Roll entries - 1925 a grazier at Munglinup; 1937 - 1958 a pastoralist at Ravensthorpe.
Notes