Blockey, Leopold
No.5567 – Private Leopold Blockey 28th Battalion AIF
Leopold Blockey was born in Hackney, London, England in 1897 to John & Christina Blockey. The family travelled to Fremantle in 1910 aboard the Orient steamship Company’s line Otway. At the time of their arrival in Australia in Leopold was 14 years old. The ships passenger list shows Leo accompanied by his mother Christina and his siblings, Cecilia, George, Phyllis and Douglas.
Upon arrival they lived in Cottesloe and then Canning Road East Fremantle. Leopold finished his schooling and joined the 87A Senior Cadets. Leopold was working as a Clerk in the Cottesloe Post Office when he enlisted in the AIF on the 6th March 1916.
As he was only 18 years old when he enlisted Leopold needed the signed consent of his mother to enlist. After this was given he went to Perth for his medical examination which found him to 5 feet 4 & ½ inches in height; weight of 105 lbs; chest measurement of 30-33 inches; fair complexion; blue eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.
Initially allotted to No.60 Depot, Leo was assigned to the 5th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion in May, and then was transferred to the Signal School. In June 1916 Leo was attached to the 15th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. This group departed from Fremantle on the 22nd September 1916 aboard the HMAT “Surada”, arriving at Plymouth England on the 21st November 1916.
After their arrival the men were sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone on the Salisbury Plains. Leo would spend the next seven months in England at this camp. He was evacuated to hospital sick on the 19th January 1917 but was back in Camp in by 9th February.
The training must have become monotonous for Leo as it seems he wasn’t given any leave so he took matters into his own hands and went Absent Without Leave from the 14th May to 17th May 1917. His punishment was the forfeiture of nine days pay. A week after going absent, Leo was sent with a draft of men, arriving at the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples in France on the 23rd May 1917. A few weeks were spent at the base depot, but finally Leo proceeded to the 28th Battalion on the 22nd June 1917. The 28th were then having a well-deserved rest from front line duties.
By September the 28th Battalion was back at the front and about to embark for their actions in the Third Battle of Ypres. The 28th Battalion was involved in places such as Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke and Passchendaele. Casualties were heavy for the Battalion, and while Leo survived the first actions in late September, on October 4th he was badly wounded in action with wounds to the head and legs. Leo was admitted to 3rd Field Ambulance and then 10th Casualty Clearing Station. Unfortunately, the wounds proved too severe for recovery and Leo died on the 5th October 1917. He was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery near Poperinghe in PlotXX.L.9A
His mother received a pension of 40/- fortnightly after Leo’s death