BLYTHE, Francis Albert
| Service Number: | 858 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1914, Helena Vale, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 11th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bunbury, Western Australia, 25 January 1894 |
| Home Town: | Bunbury, Bunbury, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Christian Brothers RC College, Perth, Western Australia |
| Occupation: | Boot salesman |
| Died: | 1, Shell wound to left shoulder & chest; 2. Haemorrhage & Air Embolism, Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, England , 30 July 1916, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Chichester Cemetery, Sussex, England Row 134, Grave 81 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bunbury War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 858, Helena Vale, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 858, 11th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 858, 11th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Fremantle | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 858, 11th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 11 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 858, 11th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 30 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 858, 11th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 858 awm_unit: 11 Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-07-30 |
Help us honour Francis Albert Blythe's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Francis Albert Blythe was born at Bunbury, Western Australia on 25th January, 1894 to parents James Drummond Blythe and Eliza Louisa Blythe (nee Houlahan).
James Drummond Blythe, father of Francis Albert Blythe, died on 27th October, 1897 at Fremantle, Western Australia.
On 7th September, 1914 Francis Albert Blythe enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) as a 20 year old, single, Boot Salesman from Spencer Street, Bunbury, Western Australia.
Private Francis Albert Blythe, Service number 858, embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 31st October, 1914 with the 11th Infantry Battalion “H” Company. They anchored for two days before sailing on 2nd November, 1914.
He embarked on HMT Suffolk from Alexandria on 2nd March, 1915 to join M. E. F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force).
On 25th April, 1915 Private Francis Albert Blythe was wounded in action at Dardanelles. He was admitted to Hospital at Heliopolis on 28th April, 1915 with a bullet wound in foot. Private Blythe rejoined his Battalion at Dardanelles on 11th May, 1915. (Casualty Form – Active Service has date as 11th May 1916; the typed version of this form has the date as 11th May, 1915).
Private Blythe was promoted to Corporal on 30th June, 1915 while at Dardanelles.
On 15th August, 1915 Corporal Blythe was promoted to Sergeant (Temporary) while at Dardanelles.
Sergeant (Temporary) Blythe was sent to Hospital at Gallipoli Peninsula on 18th September, 1915. He reverted to the rank of Corporal on being admitted to Hospital. He was admitted to No. 3 Field Ambulance on 18th September, 1915 with Pyrexia (fever). Corporal Blythe was transferred to Hospital Ship Maheno then admitted to St. Patrick’s Hospital at Malta on 23rd September, 1915 with Debility. Corporal Blythe was transferred to England from Malta on 27th September, 1915 on Hospital Ship Karoola.
On 5th October, 1915 Corporal Blythe was admitted to 3rd Western General Hospital at Cardiff with Influenza.
He was placed on the Supernumerary List at Lemnos on 20th December, 1915 of N.C.O.’s being absent not less than 3 months.
Corporal Blythe was transferred to Weymouth (undated). He was in Draft to rejoin M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) from Weymouth, England (no date).
On 14th February, 1916 Corporal Blythe was taken on strength of Overseas Base at Ghezireh. He was discharged to rejoin his Unit on 5th March, 1916 & rejoined his Unit at Serapeum on 6th March, 1916.
He embarked from Alexandria on 29th March, 1916 on Corsican to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 5th April, 1916.
Corporal Francis Albert Blythe was wounded in action in France in period between 22-25th July, 1916. He was admitted to 1st Australian Field Ambulance on 22nd July, 1916 with GSW (Gunshot wound/s) to Face. Corporal Blythe was transferred & admitted to 44th Casualty Clearing Station on 23rd July, 1916. He was transferred & admitted to 11th General Hospital at Camiers on 26th July, 1916 with GSW to thumb & shoulder. Corporal Blythe was transferred to Calais & embarked for England on Hospital Ship Dieppe on 27th July, 1916.
He was admitted to Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, England on 28th July, 1916 with shrapnel wounds to left shoulder and face.
Extract of the Medical Case Sheet for Corporal Francis Albert Blythe: “Patient was rapidly becoming worse, with signs of gangrene extending in arm, so operation was undertaken immediately…..The subclavian vein had been completely shot through…”
Corporal Francis Albert Blythe died on 30th July, 1916 at Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, Sussex, England from wounds received in action in France – 1. Shell wound to left shoulder & chest; 2. Haemorrhage & Air Embolism. (Note: The “Admissions to Hospital” form & “Morning State of Sick” form both have the date of death recorded as 29th July, 1916.
He was buried in Chichester Cemetery, Chichester, West Sussex, England where 10 other WW1 Australian Soldiers are laid to rest.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/chichester.html
Biography
Son of James Drummond BLYTHE and Eliza Louisa HOULAHAN of Spencer Street, Bunbury, Western Australia
Brother of 863 Dvr. Drummond James Blythe (/explore/people/341334) who died of wounds at Gallipoli and 309 RSM Jack Howard Drummond Blythe MM (/explore/people/108819) who returned.
He was among the first to leave Bunbury to enlist.
Click images to start slideshow.