BLAKE, William Harvey
| Service Number: | 812 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 August 1914, at Morphettville |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 6 November 1890 |
| Home Town: | Brompton, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Waikerie, South Australia, Australia, 19 February 1970, aged 79 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Waikerie General Cemetery, SA |
| Memorials: | Renown Park Brompton School Great War Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 812, 1st Divisional Train, at Morphettville | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 812, 1st Divisional Train, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 812, 1st Divisional Train, HMAT Medic, Adelaide | |
| 2 Dec 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 812, 1st Divisional Train, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 11 Nov 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 30 May 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 10th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, GSW both hands | |
| 16 Sep 1918: | Honoured Military Cross, German Spring Offensive 1918, In the operations against enemy posts at MONT DE MERRIS near STRAZEELE on night 29th/30th May, 1918, Lieutenant BLAKE was in charge of an attacking platoon of his battalion. Though wounded in the both hands early in the operation he continued to lead his platoon and rushed the objective, capturing and consolidating it under heavy machine gun fire. Later, with three of his men, he rushed an enemy machine gun post, killing the garrison and bringing in the lock of the gun. Thought badly wounded in both hands by shrapnel he remained on duty until his post had been dug in and consolidated. | |
| 18 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 10th Infantry Battalion |
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Military Cross
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion in charge of a platoon of his battalion in an attack on enemy posts. Although wounded in an earlier skirmish he continued to lead his platoon, rushed the objective, capturing and consolidating it under heavy machine gun fire. Later, with 3 men, he rushed and enemy machinegun post, killing the garrison and bringing back portions of the gun. Although badly wounded he remained on duty until his post had been consolidated’.
He was admitted to hospital in Wimereux, France on 20 September 1918 with severe gunshot wounds to his right leg and sent to England. He was returned to Australia on board Lancaster on 7 February 1919
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