Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Captain Cecil James Blomfield. Blommy was the second eldest of 11 kids in Whangaparoa, north of Auckland in New Zealand. He followed in his father’s footsteps, studying to be a lawyer while spending 3 years in the New Zealand Highland Rifles. By August 1915 Blommy was itching to join the war effort, he sailed across the ditch to Sydney and signed up to the A I F at Liverpool. After training, Blommy was posted to the 30th Battalion and promoted to Sergeant. He completed officer training, promoted to 2nd Left tenant and was moved to the 31st Battalion. He landed in France and took part in the battle of Fromelles, where the battalion lost half its men. Promoted to Left tennant, Blommy was next at Polygon Wood in Belgium, he led his platoon in the attack, Blommy saw a group of Welsh fusiliers being driven back, he ran over, stopped and organised them with his own platoon. At the objective, they were counter attacked and he moved along the line tying in guns and rifles, directing fire and personally ran and fetched a Lewis gun and directed its fire when the flank was being overrun. For his actions he was awarded the Military Cross. Promoted to Captain, Blommy was in and out of hospital with laryngitis and gas poisoning for the next year eventually back to Australia in late 1918. He married Phylis, moved back to Auckland where he finished his law degree and was accepted to the bar. In 1939 with WW2 starting, Blommy joined the famous 28th Māori Battalion posted to D Company. He embarked and fought in Greece and Crete, where at the 42nd Street battle, alongside the Aussie 2/7th Battalion, hemmed in, cut off, nearly out of ammo and outnumbered by the German Paratroopers, they fixed bayonets charged, driving the attackers back 1 and a half kilometres and killing over 280 for a loss of 14 of their own. From that day, the mere mention of the Māori battalion drove extreme fear into the very hearts of the Nazis. Blommy and his mates went on to fight in Africa, Syria and then in Italy. He was there for the brutal battle at Monte Cassino, where they helped turn the tide of the battle. Eventually Blommy returned home and separated from Phyllis. He met and married Alice, settled on the Queensland Gold Coast and had a daughter, Pamela. He lived to age 73. Lest we forget the highly respected, feared and decorated Anzac Warrior of both world wars and legendary Kiwi and Aussie, Captain Cess Blomfield MC.