Blaikie, Thomas

No.2537 – Private Thomas Blaikie  44^th Battalion AIF

Thomas Blaikie was born in Roxborough Scotland to Bartholomew & Margaret Blaikie on 5^th August 1898. He went to school in Melrose Scotland and was 13 years old when the family came out to Western Australia in 1910. The family moved to McKimmie Street in East Fremantle and Thomas finished his schooling at Fremantle State School. He also became a member of the 86A Senior Cadets based in Fremantle. After leaving school he began working as a farm hand and was employed as such when he enlisted into the AIF in July 1916.

As Thomas was under 21 years old, he needed the consent of his parents to enlist. They signed the necessary forms and Thomas was accepted into the AIF. His medical examination found him to be 5 feet 7 inches in height; weight of 145 lbs; hest measurement of 35-37 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes; brown hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian.

Thomas was assigned to the 5^th Reinforcements to the 44^th Battalion which left Fremantle on the A8 H.M.A.T. “Argyllshire” on the 9^th November 1916, arriving in Devonport England on the 10^th January 1917. They were marched straight into the 11^th Training Battalion at Rollestone on the Salisbury Plains where they were to spend the next few months. On the 10^th April 1917, Thomas left England for France and a few days later joined the 44^th Battalion in the vicinity of Ploegsteert. During the attack on Messines in early June 1917, Thomas was evacuated to hospital as a result of being gassed. He was evacuated to hospital on the French coast but recovered quickly and rejoined the 44^th Battalion on the 4^th July 1917.

The Third Battle of Ypres began on the 31^st July 1917, and the 11^th Brigade was involved in a small feint attack against the German line opposite. Thomas Blaikie was unfortunately killed in action on the 31^st July 1917. Private J Little of the 44^th Battalion stated that;

“I was right alongside him when he was killed by a shell about 10am on the 31^st July in a trench to the right of Gapaard Avenue. He was killed straight out and his body was buried in the same grave with a man called West close to the trench.”

The burial annotation on his records stated that he was buried about

 “2000 yards east of Messines & 300 yards east of cross roads, south of road”.

Unfortunately after the war his grave was not recovered and so he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.

Blaikie Street in the suburb of Myaree would later be named after Thomas.