George John Ernest BLYTH

George John Ernest BLYTH Update Details

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BLYTH, George John Ernest

Service Number:	3919
Enlisted:	25 August 1915
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	52nd Infantry Battalion
Born:	Nabowla, Tasmania, Australia, 29 September 1898
Home Town:	Nabowla, Dorset, Tasmania
Schooling:	Nabowla State School, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation:	Blacksmith
Died:	Killed in action, Mouquet Farm, France, 4 September 1916, aged 17 years
Cemetery:	Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery Plot III, Row G, Grave No. 9. ONE OF THE BEST A LOVING SON A BROTHER KIND & TRUE SO DEARLY LOVED
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

25 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3919, 12th Infantry Battalion
24 Nov 1915:	Involvement Private, 3919, 12th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
24 Nov 1915:	Embarked Private, 3919, 12th Infantry Battalion, RMS Orontes, Melbourne
4 Sep 1916:	Involvement Private, 3919, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3919 awm_unit: 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-09-04

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

George Blythe enlisted in Tasmania during August 1915 when he was still only 16 years of age. He was transferred to the 52nd Battalion in Egypt during April 1916. On 3 September 1916 the 52nd Battalion was in the middle of the last attack conducted by the Australians the battle of Pozieres. His company was to support the 51st Battalion as they tried to capture Mouquet Farm. However, his company advanced too far and ran into their own artillery barrage.

George was reported as missing. He was four weeks short of his 18th birthday. His death was officially confirmed some eight months later. During 1923, his remains were discovered by the Commonwealth War Graves, identified by his identity disc. He was found in the same place as Captain R.R.R. Ekin-Smyth 52nd Battalion who was killed the same day. Today they are still buried beside one another, in the Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, Albert, France.

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