Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Mr and Mrs C R Blythman, of Wooroolin, Queensland, received word on 18th March, that their son, Staff Sergeant Henry James Blythman died at sea, from wounds received in action near Buna Mission, New Guinea, on 30th December, 1942.
Staff Sergeant Blytbman had sent a message through Capt. G O Suthers, a few weeks earlier to tell his mother that with a little luck, he hoped to be on his way home in three weeks. He was embarked on 12th March, and everyone was quite confident at hospital of his reaching
Australia. His parents and friends were looking forward to seeing him
any day.
He was born at Narandera on 1st August, 1918, and educated at the Matong Public School, where he won a Bursary, and later went to Leeton Intermediate High School. He enlisted with the AIF in October 1939, and went into camp on 21st November. He sailed on the "Mauretania" on 5th May, 1940, arriving in Scotland on 16th June. After training in Eng- land, he sailed on the "Strathaird" on 16th November, arriving at Alexandria on 31st December, 1940.
Staff Sergeant Blythman was one of the "Rats of Tobruk". He left Egypt on 15th February. 1942, and arrived home at Wooroolin, on Anzac Day, where he with two mates led the march in Kingaroy. After seven days home leave, he went back to camp, and on 7th August, left, for action at Milne Bay.
Writing on behalf of A Company of his battalion, a mate said: "We have a lot to thank Harry for; especially those hot meals and drinks of tea, he was so instrumental in getting up to us, often under extremely difficult conditions, and in places, where other C.Q's. would pass over as being too dangerous."
His association with sporting fields and the esteem in which he was held by his many friends in Wooroolin bear testimony that his passing will be felt not only by his nearest rela tives, but by the whole district.
He is survived by two brothers, Eric John, Wondai CPS office; Kevin, Wooroolin, and three sisters; Mrs Isabel Harvey, Batlow; Mrs Rose Pedersen, "Wyseby station", Rolleston, Queensland, and Myrtle, of Wooroolin.
Article - Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW : 1893 - 1953)Tuesday 13 April 1943 - Page 2

The Blythman Brothers - Henry James Blythman QX3141 and Eric John Blythman 435358 – WW11 Wooroolin Honour Board.
Charles & Very Blythmann and their family settled on their Wooroolin farm in Oct 1935 when Eric & Kevin started school followed by their sister Mytle the next year. Henry was 17 years old in 1935 so already out working. Sister Rose was 18 years old and married into the Wooroolin community with Godfred Pedersen Jr. in 1939

Henry James Blythman born 1 Aug 1918 at Harandua, enlisted in the 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion on 21 Nov 1939 at Maryborough. His Army records are not yet available online but we know that Henry died on 13 March 1943 at sea, New Guinea.
The history of the 2/9th Infantry Battalion is on the AWM website. The fought in Egypt in 1940 and 1941. In 1942 the battalion was used as reinforcement at Tobruk against the German force. The 2/9th sailed for Australia from Suez on 12 February, disembarking at Adelaide on 28 March.
Papua was the 2/9th's next battleground. The 2/9th's final engagement in Papua was at Sanananda between 12 and 24 January 1943. The horrendous impact of both the fighting and tropical diseases in Papua was evident in the 2/9th's casualty statistics. Prior to Buna it had numbered 666 all ranks. 89 remained standing when the battalion was withdrawn to Port Moresby in the first week of February 1943.
Henry is also remembered on the Sydney Memorial, Rookwood, Sydney, NSW. His name is located at panel 33 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial (as indicated by the poppy on the plan).

Eric John Blythmann born 15 Mar 1925 at Matong, NSW enlisted at Maryborough in the RAAF on 22 Apr 1943 at Brisbane (1 month after the death of his brother, Henry!) and he served for over 2 years when he was discharged on 7 Dec 1945.
Eric’s records are not yet available online but he served as a Warrant Officer in the 9 AIRCREW HOLDING UNIT at the end of the war.
Aircrew Holding Units were administrative units established to stage trained aircrew through prior to assignment to a squadron, or, at the end of the war, through de-mobilisation. It is possible that Eric was based in UK as the 9 Aircrew Holding Unit was based at RAF Gamston in England in 1944 to repatriate Commonwealth pilots.
Eric married Betty Stanton about 1952 whilst he was living in Goomeri. It was at this time he joined the world of politicians. There are many articles in newspapers about elections for the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in the Goomeri Region during the 1950’s but then he and his family moved all over Qld In his work as a Public Servant! Eric Blythman died in 2011 and is remembered at Albany Creek Memorial Park.
Lest We Forget