Blowfield, Harold John

3108 Lance Corporal Harold John Blowfield - 48th Battalion AIF

Harold John Blowfield was born in July 1881 in Southgate Middlesex England to John and Catherine Blowfield. He had several siblings, with, Burton (1879), Muriel (1882), Gladys (1884), Bernard (1885), Guy (1889), Eric (1891), Mary (1895) and Audrey (1897).

Harold married in 1908 to Sorine Louise Petersen at Scarborough Yorkshire England. During his time in England Harold had served for a few years with the Imperial Yeomanry.

A son John was born in 1909, followed by Marjorie in 1910, though sadly Marjorie died in 1911. The family came to Fremantle WA on 8th May 1911. The family initially took up residence at 60 Hampton Road Fremantle. (later renumbered to 42)

Further children were then born, Audrey in 1912, Dorothy in 1915 and Madge in 1916. In 1915 the family then moved to 101 Alma Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 31 Alma). During this time Harry had been working in Fremantle as a Clerk.

On the 30th July 1916 Harold enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 9 &1/2 inches;

Weight - 192lbs;

Chest Measurement - 39-42 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

Upon his successful enlistment Harry was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was initially assigned to No.80 Training Depot. He spent a week here being taken through the basics of infantry work. He was then transferred to the 23rd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion. He spent a month training with this group but was then transferred to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion.

After two weeks with this group Harry was then sent to the Non Commissioned Officers School on the 18th September 1916. He was at this school till the 16th October 1916. He had passed his NCO School successfully and was then made an Acting Corporal.

Harry was then sent to the Depot Training School in his new role as a NCO. He spent a month at the Depot Camp and was then transferred to the 24th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion on the 16th November 1916. However the same day he was moved to the 8th Reinforcements to the 48th Battalion.

Harry trained with this group in WA for the next month while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. On the 23rd December 1916 Harry and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Berrima. This ship then set sail for England. During the voyage Harry was given the temporary rank of Sergeant.

On the 16th February 1917 the ship arrived at Devonport Harbour England and the men were then disembarked and were sent to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford Camp. As his NCO rank was for the duration of training in Australian and the voyage, on arrival at Codford Camp Harry reverted to the rank of Private.

Harry would remain training in England for the next few months. On the 23rd July 1917 Harry embarked for France and upon arrival was sent to the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Le Havre. Harry stayed here for the next few weeks and was taken on strength of the 48th Battalion on the 12th August 1917.

The 48th battalion were then located in the Messines sector in Belgium. They spent a few more weeks there but in September were moved up to the Ypres sector.

On September 26th 1917 the 48th Battalion saw action around Polygon Wood and on October 12th 1917 attempted to capture the village of Passchendaele. However the conditions were atrocious and with their flanks unsupported, the attack did not succeed. Casualties were heavy for the 48th Battalion though Harry had come through successfully.

On the 30th October 1917 Harry was promoted to Lance Corporal. A few weeks later on the 17th November 1917 Harry was evacuated ill with appendicitis. He was sent to the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville. He remained here until the 13th December 1917 when he was shipped to England. After his arrival he was sent to Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton. He remained here till the 28th January 1918 when he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.

On the 2nd February 1918 Harry was released from hospital and was given a two week furlough. After this break was over on the 16th February 1918 he reported into No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. After a week he was sent to No.3 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott.

On the 6th April 1918 Harry was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell and then on the 1st May 1918 proceeded to France. He had a few days at the Base Depot, but rejoined the 48th battalion on the 5th May 1918.

The 48th Battalion was then in the vicinity of Villers-Bretonneux. They would remain here for the next few months and were in support positions when Hamel village was successfully captured on July 4th 1918.

Harold then participated in the 8th August 1918 advance from the Villers Bretonneux front which broke through the Germans lines. Harry was in action with his unit from August 8th to September 18th 1918. He came through all these actions unscathed.

The September 18th action at Le Verguier was the 48th Battalion's last action in the war. They were then pulled out of the line for a rest period and the Armistice was announced before they could return to the front. After the Armistice was announced the 48th Battalion went to what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium.

On the 26th January 1919 Harry was granted leave to see Brussels, returning to his unit on the 5th February 1919. On the 23rd February Harry had applied for educational employment and was then returned to England. On the 5th March 1919 he arrived at the Australian Army Service Corps Camp at Parkhouse. He was then granted leave from the 13th March 1919 to 13th June 1919. During this time he attended Chivers and Sons in Brandon Suffolk and then Bamfield to learn the latest developments in mixed farming.

When this non military employment expired Harry was sent to the AIF Camp at Sutton Veny to await being assigned a troopship home. On the 23rd July 1919 Harry boarded the troopship Main and set sail for home, disembarking in Fremantle on the 27th September 1919.

He was discharged from the AIF on the 5th November 1919.

After his return home to Alma Street, he found work as a Clerk and a son George was born in 1920.

They then moved south to Harvey to take up dairy farming. They had a property called 'Holbrook' in Harvey.

Harry farmed here for the next fifty years.

Harry died in 1972 in Harvey WA aged 90 and he was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.

(Photo of Harold Blowfield courtesy of family ancestry page)