Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Lieutenant
William Harvey Blake M.C.

Number 812, 10th Battalion, A.I.F

Born: November the 6th 1890
Died: 19th of February 1970

William Harvey Blake was born in Sydney Australia on November 6th, 1890, to Mr. W and Mrs Mary Blake.

World War One was declared on the 28th of July 1914 with England committing her troops on the 4th of August 1914. Australia also joined those committing to war commencing on the 4th of August 1914.

Within a few weeks recruiting stations had been set up and William Harvey Blake then aged 23 years enlisted at MORPHETTVILLE on the 19th of August 1914.

At this time, he described himself as single and a carpenter. The Army listed his description has 23.8 years of age 5' 6 (and a quarter) inches tall and weighing130 pounds and of the Church of England faith. He listed his mother, Mrs Mary E Blake of East Street Brompton, South Australia as his next of kin.

Originally William was posted to the 1st Divisional Train, 4th company of the Army Service Corps.

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What is a Divisional Train?
The best description I found for this is as follows:-
"Division (and Brigade) Trains were logistic support and supply units under Command of the Division to which its numeric designator corresponded. Without logistics there is no combat. Ammunition, food, water and equipment supply and maintenance are vital components of the combat power of an Army.
It was Napoleon who first introduced a deliberate synchronized supply and maintenance system to support military campaigning. By the First World War, the challenge had become prodigious indeed. Division Trains were a prime mechanism to ensure the Army could move and fight.
The tasks of the trains and motorised columns varied. The basic tasks of train companies were to carry baggage and resupply food, forage and water for the headquarters and units of the division."
(Thanks to Mr Steve LARKIN, VWMA)

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William listed that he had served 3 years with the 10th infantry at the rank of Corporal before his currently posting, where he was in the 3rd year serving with the Australian Army Service Corps.

William completed training and embarked from Adelaide on board transport HMAT Medic on the 20th of October 1914.

William served in the Divisional Train at Gallipoli, Egypt and then in Europe.
William wrote to a friend in ADELAIDE, and it was published in the newspaper.

SHELLS FROM THE GOEBEN
Sergeant W H. Blake, of the 4th Army Service Corps, who was on board one of the transports during the landing of the Australians on the Gallipoli Peninsula, writing to a friend in Adelaide says:-

"We had I suppose the best view of the fighting and although we had a very narrow escape from getting our ship sunk in some ways it was worth the risk. The Goeben, from the Sea of Marmora, let a few of her 12-in. shells over and got our range exactly.

One shell wet the forecastle-head with spray. Another went just over the bridge, and one fell a few yards short. By Jove, they do hum. You can hear them screeching a long time before they reach you, and everyone waits for them to lob. Needless to say, we got full steam, ahead, and were on the move before our mud-hook was up. We found several rifle bullets about, and two men had very narrow escapes.

I might especially mention the wounded. The Australian papers have made, a great fuss and advertised the very little amount of disease amongst the troops. I can tell you honestly nothing hurts them more. I do not think there were ever wounded in better spirits, and if the 'wowsers' saw these chaps and heard them say as they were passing. 'Are we the diseased army now?' they would think a lot more before they denounced the truest and bravest of Australia.

All the transport is being done by pack transport, and our wagons are useless until the Turks are driven farther back and we can land on another part of the beach. We had to return to Alexandria as our horses were knocked up, owing to standing so long."

( from “Express and Telegraph" (Adelaide) Wednesday 30 June 1915, page 4 )


After a series of duties and fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula and in France, on 7th June 1917, Sergeant BLAKE was sent to the officers Instruction school at Oxford in England. On the 27th Of September 1917 Blake was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

After a number of further courses, 2Lt BLAKE was posted to the 10th Infantry Battalion.

On the 22nd of February 1918, BLAKE was promoted to Lieutenant. On the 30th of March 1918 of Lt BLAKE was in charge of a platoon during an intense attack on the enemy. During the attack he was wounded in both hands but continued until relieved. He was evacuated to hospital.

On the 12th of September 1918 he re-joined his unit. For his brave actions on the 30th of March 1918 when he was wounded William received the Military Cross.

The citation read: -
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion in charge of a platoon of his battalion in an attack on enemy posts. Although wounded in both hands early in the action he continued to lead his platoon, rushed the objective, capturing and consolidating it under heavy machine gun fire.

Later with 3 men he rushed an enemy machine gun post killing the Garrison and bringing back portions of the gun. Although badly wounded he remained on duty until his post had been consolidated. His splendid courage and example throughout where admirable. “

(Commonwealth gazette number 15 - 4th of February 1919.)


BLAKE had returned to his unit on the 12th of September 1918 after having recuperated from his wounds. Only 6 days later in another action on the 18th of September 1918, Lt BLAKE received a severe gunshot wound to his right leg.

Less than a week after returning to lead his unit he was again hospitalised!
Only two days later, on the 20th September 1918, the award of the Military Cross was announced for Lt William BLAKEs actions on the 30th of March 1918. On the 27th of September 1918 BLAKE was transferred to hospital in England due to the serious nature of his injuries.

Blake's injury was so severe he was to take no further part in the war.

He commenced his return to Australia on board HMAT Lancashire on the 7th of December 1918 disembarking in Adelaide on 10th of March 1919. He then received treatment and care at the Keswick Army hospital.

After multiple operations the ‘Original Anzac” was left with a limp as a permanent reminder of his service.

After the war William moved to WAIKERIE where his mother had already moved whilst he was away.

William married Marion and they had 5 sons and a daughter (Rosalind, William (Bill), Jeffrey, Robert, Maurice and John) which they brought up in WAIKERIE.

Their first child, William Dennis BLAKE was born in 1920.

On the 7th June 1920 William received his 1914/1915 Star medal (#2365). On the 3rd of May, 1921 he received his British War Medal (#6) and he received his Victory Medal (#6) on the 25th of April, 1922 all at WAIKERIE.

William BLAKE settled into the town very well. He was very active in the RSL and with matters relating to returned servicemen. William commenced work as a carpenter and building contractor. He assisted in designing buildings as he quoted for the construction. He was awarded a contract to construct a “domestic arts and woodwork” area for the Waikerie Public School.

William was not only a builder when he went up to Waikerie. He had a five-acre farm. (“or a block” as it was called then.)

Roger BLAKE (One of William Snr sons) was interviewed in 2003 for the Australian Oral Wine history project.

He recalled “It had about an acre of apricots and some nectarines and some peaches. And a few oranges and a few sultanas and a few Gordos and a few currants.

Also the Waikerie Co-op was mainly a distillery at that stage. There weren't that many that had shares in the Co-op at the time, but my father was one of them. He used to dry his currants and his sultanas, but the Gordos they used to send down to the Co-op for sweet wine. Then later on, they also took the currants and the 4 sultanas and the whole lot down. Actually, his best friend was John Darling who was the secretary, so pretty involved.

The winery used to be right down near the river. As kids we used to go down and swim, and we’d walk over and have a look and see the crushing going during vintage while we were there.

The boiler was all wood fired in those days, so you could go and have a yarn with the boiler bloke and go and have a look at the distillery. It was pretty open. So, you know, that was really my introduction to the industry. This is how I went into the industry.

My elder brother joined up and went to the war, (William Dennis BLAKE) and he said that when he came back he was going to be a winemaker. Well, he didn't come back. He joined the commandos, and he was killed in 1942 up in New Guinea.

So I said that I’d go into the wine industry….”

In about 1928 William designed or assisted in the design for the Memorial Board in the Waikerie Soldiers Memorial Hall and assisted in organising its construction, using Pengilly and Co of EDWARDSTOWN for the construction.

In service again.
During World War 2, William Harvey BLAKE re-enlisted into the Army. On the 28th July 1941 Lt BLAKE (s3317) was called up to full time service as the Assistant Area Officer posted at GLOSSOP, an important role.

When war broke out, William and Marians sons, Bill (William Jnr) and Robert both travelled to Adelaide to enlist. Bill rode his horse the 120 miles to do so.

On the 2nd December 1942, Bill was fighting as a commando with 2/2 Commando at Buna Airfield when he was shot and killed by a sniper. The news devastated the family.

William Snrs last day of active full-time service with the Army was on the 11th October 1943 at which time he re-enlisted with the Volunteer Defence Corps.

By this time William Harvey BLAKE had served over 1,350 days in full time active military service in Australia and abroad.

He became President of the Waikerie RSL in 1946 as he continued to fight for the rights of returning and returned soldiers. and their families.

In 1950 he presided over the last duties of the Waikerie War Funds Committee which was to prepare and install a WW2 Memorial Board in the Waikerie Soldiers Memorial Hall and organise its construction, again using Pengilly and Co of EDWARDSTOWN for the construction. This duty must’ve been a hard one considering his sons name was one of the 31 on the Roll of Honour of those who had paid the Supreme Sacrifice.

William BLAKE owned and ran the Waikerie stone quarry supplying some of the best quality stone used in Adelaide. Employing a number of locals, his stone clad the SA Savings Bank and the Bank of NSW buildings in King William Street. The WAIKERIE limestone was also used in statue pedestals in front of the Art Gallery and other locations and was sent to ADELAIDE in three-to-five-ton sized blocks and dressed there for use.

On the 19th of February 1970, a now 79 year old William Harvey BLAKE passed away at WAIKERIE.

On Sunday the 22nd day of February 1970 a funeral service for Lieutenant William Harvey BLAKE M.C. which was conducted by Reverend MILLER was very well attended at the Waikerie Cemetery.

A life of service to others by himself and family.

LEST WE FORGET