BLANCH, Geoffrey Barton
| Service Number: | 569 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 March 1915, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Jika Jika, Northcote, Victoria, Australia, 1894 |
| Home Town: | Northcote, Darebin, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Fairfield State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Motor Driver |
| Died: | Died of wounds - compound fracture of the thigh and wrist, Bombay Presidency General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt, 4 January 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery Row A, Grave 90 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hawthorn Postmaster General's Department Victoria 1, Northcote BLANCH Memorial Plaque, Northcote Presbyterian Roll of Honor, Postmaster General's Department Victoria 2 |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 569, 24th Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Sergeant, 569, 24th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Sergeant, 569, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne | |
| 17 Dec 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 569, 24th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Wounds to the thigh(compound fracture) and wrist. On 23 December 1915 invalided to Alexandria on board HS Dunlace Castle |
Help us honour Geoffrey Barton Blanch's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Alfred Edwin and Lilian Charlotte Blanch of 102 Darebin Road, Northcote, Victoria. Brother of Charles Vivian Blanch MM who returned to Australia on 1 July 1919 having served with the 3rd Divisional Signal Company
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Anzac,
Gallipoli Pensla.,
Turkey,
7/11/1915.
Dear Mr. Whalley and Northcote Friends,—Just a line to wish you all a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Our Xmas will, doubtless, be slightly different to the ones we usually enjoy, but all the same we will bo able to knock out a merry time. There is one thing missing here, and that is there are no chimneys to our homes, so the "ghost" will have to come in the front door this time. Our chaps are a happy lot, and as game as the best. The other night the Turks had a bit of a go at us, but "forgot" to be successful. Livened things up for a time. There are always rumors here that Abdul is going to try and push us into the sea, but let him come and try. He would get another big shock if he did. One cannot say enough for the first boys. One has to see things for himself to get an idea how they worked. I see by the papers that Carlton were the premiers at football. Wo also had the result of the Melbourne Cup cabled to us. There is one thing this year, we did not go home from the races with empty pockets and in a bad mood. Something we saved, eh?
Well, dear friends, wo must close now. Again wishing you all the season greetings.
We remain, yours from the firing line,
569 Sc.t. 0. 13. Blanch,
1051 Sot. T. P. Ahkhn.
C Company, 24thh Batt., 6th Inf. Bgde.
From a Dugout,
At Gallipoli.
SERGEANT BLANCH DIES OF
WOUNDS.
Mr. Blanch, of 102 DaHebin street, Northcote, received word from the Defence Department that Sergeant G. B. Blanch, 24th Batt., was seriously wounded and dangerously ill. He was admitted to Bombay Presidency General Hospital suffering from compound fracture of the thigh and wrist. Later in the week the Rev. R. W. Rock had the melancholy duty of conveying to Mr. Blanch the sad intelligence that his son had succumbed to his wounds. With his happy disposition Sergeant Blanch was a general favorite amongst his comrades. He was 21 years of age, and is the second son of Mr. Blanch, another of whose sons has already been to and returned from the fighting lines, He was an employo in the Postal Department at the time of his enlistment. From his boyhood he had been connec ted with the Northcote Presbyterian Church, and amongst his many friends there his death will be deeply regretted.
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