Blaikie, William
No.2020 – Private William Blaikie – 2nd Pioneer Battalion
William Blaikie was born in Jedburgh Scotland in 1893. He was educated in Scotland though after leaving school he took up the carpentry trade. In his teenage years William also saw military service with the territorial unit of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He journeyed to Western Australia with his family and took up residence in East Fremantle. William soon found employment as a Carpenter.
On the 23rd June 1915 he enlisted into the AIF at the Swan Barracks in Perth. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording William’s physical attributes as; 5 feet 8 inches in height; weight of 154lbs; chest measurement of 36-39 inches; medium complexion, grey eyes and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. William was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp, where like his brother Walter he was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion.
They trained in WA until the end of August 1915. They were then given their departure orders and travelled down to Fremantle where they boarded the HMAT Aeneas and set sail for Egypt. The journey took just over three weeks and after disembarking the men were sent into camp. While Walter was sent on to Gallipoli it appears from his service records that William was kept in the base details camp in Egypt as there are no references of his going to Gallipoli or Lemnos in the service records. William was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 19th January 1916.
William would not have long with the 28th Battalion as on the 11th March 1916 he transferred into the 2nd Pioneer Battalion to join his brother. The new unit didn’t have long in Egypt as they soon departed for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 26th March 1916. During the voyage William was diagnosed with mumps and was put under care of the 6th Field Ambulance. It appears he was also suffering from bronchitis so William was initially put into hospital in Marseilles, before being sent north to Le Havre. William had a few more weeks of rest before rejoining the 2nd Pioneers near Fleurbaix on the 3rd May 1916.
William served with the 2nd Pioneers through the Pozieres and Mouquet Farm campaigns and came through unscathed. When the Battalion moved to Belgium William got into trouble when he was in Poperinghe. He was charged with going absent without leave from his billet without a pass and for also trying to force his way into a private home in Rue Westonlea. William pleaded guilty to the first charge but not guilty to the second. He was subsequently awarded seven days of Field Punishment No.2.
In October the 2nd Division returned to the Somme and the 2nd Pioneers had to work in atrocious conditions during the 1916/17 French winter. On the 22nd November 1916 William got into trouble for falling out of a march without permission. He was again given seven days of Field Punishment No.2. The freezing conditions were having a dire effect on the soldiers and William was no exception. On the 23rd January 1917 he was evacuated to hospital suffering from influenza. It was a severe case as he didn’t return from hospital until the 14th March. Not long after his return William was working with a party from the 2nd Pioneers on a road near Le Sars when they were snapped by an Official Photographer. In this Australian War Memorial photo below William can be seen 3rd left leaning on his shovel watching a wounded British airman be taken by on stretcher.
The 2nd Division would be involved in operations near Lagnicourt and Bullecourt through March, April and May 1917. The 2nd Pioneer Battalion were particularly active during the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt on the 3rd May 1917 as they battled to open up a communication trench between their own lines and the German positions captured by the Australian infantry.
William was wounded by shrapnel through the back and after initial treatment he was sent to the 11th Stationary Hospital in Rouen. Fortunately the wound was not too severe and on the 30th May William was transferred to the 2nd Convalescent Depot at Buchy. He had two weeks rest here but on the 12th June was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot at Le Havre. William only had a few days at the Depot as on the 17th June he rejoined the 2nd Pioneers.
The 2nd Division was currently on a three month rest period out of the line. In August 1917 William was given leave and it appears he went to Paris, though while he was on his return he came down severely ill and was sent to the 58th General hospital in St Omer. William was diagnosed with appendicitis and on the 23rd September he was put on a hospital ship and transported to England. On his arrival he was sent to Brook War Hospital in Woolwich. It must have been a severe case of appendicitis as he remained in this hospital until the 10th October 1917. He was then transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He was now assessed as fit but was given a two week furlough after which William would have to report to No.3 Command Depot at Hurdcott.
William must have been enjoying his leave as he reported to camp late and was charged with being absent without leave for a day. He was fined a day’s pay and also had to endure a day’s worth of Field Punishment No.2. On the 27th November William was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill Camp. He stayed there for just over two weeks as on the 12th December he was put in a draft of men for Southampton where they boarded a troopship for France. On arrival at Le Havre William was sent into the 2nd ADBD and he eventually rejoined the 2nd Pioneers on the 23rd December 1917.
The 2nd Division was now in the Warneton sector of southern Belgium. On the 21st February William was promoted to Lance Corporal.
As a result of the German offensive that was making headway towards Amiens, the 3rd & 4th Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to halt this advance and they were closely followed by the 2nd & 5th Divisions. William survived the next few hectic months of conflict as the 2nd Division was based near Morlancourt and Ville-sur-Ancre.
On the 25th June 1918 he was given leave to Paris, returning to his unit on the 11th July 1918. From August 8th to October 5th 1918 the 2nd Division was in almost constant action, being involved in the advance from Amiens, the capture of Mont St Quentin and the final AIF assault at Montbrehain. In this last action, William and his fellow Pioneers were ustilised as infantry, and many Pioneers were killed. William came through unscathed and was promoted temporary Corporal to replace a soldier who had been evacuated wounded.
The 2nd Division was now withdrawn for a rest but on the 24th October William was transferred to the Australian Corps School for a period of instruction. William returned to the 2nd Pioneers on the 11th November 1918 and no doubt was able to celebrate the Armistice with his mates. On the 15th November William was granted a period of leave to England, however he again returned a day late, but was only reprimanded and fined a day’s pay.
William remained with the 2nd Pioneers through December 1918 and January 1919 and it appears his rank of Corporal was confirmed on the 10th January 1919. On the 30th January he returned to England and was marched into the 3rd Training Brigade. William worked here while he waited for a ships berth to return to Australia. On the 28th April 1919 William boarded the HMT Ypiringa and set sail for Australia. Unfortunately the ship bypassed WA but William disembarked in Port Adelaide on the 2nd July 1919 and then had to re-embark on a ship for WA.
William eventually returned to Fremantle and in 1921 he married Edith Ritson and they continued to live in the Fremantle region. William died in 1966 aged 72.