BLAKE, Russell Palmer
| Service Number: | 24634 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 January 1916, Place of enlistment - Maribyrnong, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column |
| Born: | Barwon Heads, Victoria, 28 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Barwon Heads, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | The Geelong College |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk, Bank of New South Wales |
| Died: | 31 August 1957, aged 60 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Barwon Heads & District Residents Honor Roll, Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 24634, Place of enlistment - Maribyrnong, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Gunner | |
| 16 Jun 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Driver | |
| 27 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 24634, Embarked on HMAT 'A37' Barambah from Melbourne on 27th June 1916, disembarking Plymouth, England on 25th August 1916. | |
| 24 Nov 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 24634, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, Proceeded to France | |
| 2 Jul 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 24634, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, Embarked for return to Australia on HMT Karmala from England on 2nd July 1919, disembarking Melbourne on 17th August 1919. | |
| 2 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 24634, 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Daryl Jones
BLAKE, Russell Palmer (1897-1957)
Russell Blake was born on 28 July 1897, the son of Arthur John Blake and Eva Marion nee Russell, of 'Bramerton', Barwon Heads. He was first enrolled in 1909 by A J Blake listing his address as Claremont Avenue, Geelong but again appears in the enrolment register, age 13 years, on 10 July 1910. He appears to have then continued as a boarder until December 1914.
He enlisted (No 24634) at Maryborough on 7 January 1916, having previously been in the Citizen Forces and embarked for France from Melbourne on HMAT A37 Barambah on 27 June 1916, arriving there on 24 November. He served as a Driver, Gunner and Private in France with 3rd Divisional Ammunition Column, then took leave to England in January 1918, and again late in November 1918. He returned to Australia on HMT Karmala, embarking on 1 July 1919.
Pegasus published an obituary of Russel Blake in 1957: 'Russell S Blake, who attended the College from 1909 to 1914 (sic), died after a short illness on August 31 (1957). He was 60 years of age. On leaving school he joined the staff of the Bank of NSW with which he remained all his life except for two years' service in the First World War. He took a keen interest in all sporting activities and the Returned Soldiers' League and at the time of his death was secretary-treasurer of the Linton (Vic) football Club. He leaves a widow and two Old Collegian sons, Ian (1943) and Geoff (1947).'
Source : The Geelong College - https://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au/wiki/BLAKE-Russell-Palmer-1897-1957.ashx?HL=blake