Frank Gray BLIGHT

Frank Gray BLIGHT Update Details

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BLIGHT, Frank Gray

Service Number:	3024
Enlisted:	23 August 1915, 7th Reinforcements, 27th Battalion Adelaide South Australia Australia
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	27th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Clare South Australia Australia, 23 January 1880
Home Town:	Prospect, Prospect, South Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Cabinet Maker
Died:	Prospect, South Australia, Australia, 26 July 1960, aged 80 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Dudley Park Cemetery, South Australia Dudley Park Cemetery, Adelaide
Memorials:	Hindmarsh Star of Freedom Tent No 4 IOOR WW1 Roll of Honor, Prospect Roll of Honour A-G WWI Board

World War 1 Service

23 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3024, 27th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements, 27th Battalion Adelaide South Australia Australia
12 Jan 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 27th Infantry Battalion, embarkation_roll: roll_number: 15 embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note:
23 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières
8 Aug 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 27th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm
Date unknown:	Wounded 3024, 27th Infantry Battalion

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Biography

Son of Thomas BLIGHT and Mary Elizabeth nee THOMAS

Surname: BLIGHT; Given Names: Frank Gray; Date of Birth: 23 January 1880; Date of Enlistment: 2 August 1915; Trade or Calling: Cabinet maker; Birth Location: Clare SA; Address prior to enlistment: Vine St Prospect; Photograph sent by: Thos. Blight
Source: State Records SA

NAA extract Blight Frank Gray : SERN 3024 : POB Clare SA : POE Adelaide SA : NOK M Blight Mary Elizabeth

Enlisted into the 7th Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion on the 23rd August 1915, Frank Blight was a 35 year old Cabinet Maker residing in Vine Street Prospect at the time.

After training at Mitcham Camp he embarked with the rest of his draft on the 12th January 1916. He transferred in Suez to shipping bound for Marseilles. Almost immediately upon disembarkation, he was hospitalised with Mumps.

He was taken on strength by the 27^th Battalion on the 15^th July 1916 as it was preparing to go to the Somme.

He served through the Pozieres campaign and then at Flers. He was hospitalised for a week in mid-November while the Battalion and the rest of the AIF was enduring the misery of winter near Guedecourt on the Somme. After an initial period of one week in hospital, and just three days back in the unit he was again evacuated on 21 November 1916, with trench feet and shell shock.

Like 20,000 other Australians, had to be treated for Trench Feet, a condition caused by the perpetually wet conditions in which the men were living. His condition was made worse by the onset of shell shock probably form continual exposure to German shelling in the front lines.

This time he was evacuated to England for further treatment to 1st London General Hospital, and later via Mitcham to Wareham.

After an extended period of recuperation he rejoined the Battalion in July 1917. He then served through the Third Ypres campaign. He was granted leave to England in February 1918 and returned in March.

He was wounded in action on the 20^th July 1918, with a gunshot wound (GSW) to the right leg.. Evacuated by the 6^th Field Ambulance he transited through a Casualty Clearing Station via Ambulance Train to Rouen and then to England.

This was to be the end of his war. He was moved through a serries of hospitals in England. His recovery was impaired as a result of contracting influenza (by this stage the Spanish flu had reached pandemic proportions).

He was eventually assigned to the Overseas Training Brigade in December.

He was repatriated to Australia on board the 'Orca" on 19 February 1919 and disembarked in Adelaide arriving 29 March 1919. He was discharged on the 20th May 1919.

After the war he resumed his trae as a carpenter. He joined the RSL and was a member of Prospect Sub Branch until July 1953. He resided at 76 Bosanquet Ave Prospect. His date of death is not yet confirmed. He was interred at Dudley Park Cemetery and was survived by his wife and two children.

Awarded:

British War medal 9320

VCictory Medal 9326

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War Memorial
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