Blaize, Sydney
3029 Private Sydney Blaize MM - 44th Battalion AIF
Sydney Blaize was born in Fremantle in 1898 to John and Annie Blaize. He was one of seven siblings born into the family.
He was educated at CBC Fremantle during which time he also served in the Naval Cadets. After leaving school he took up employment as a horse driver. The family were then living at 16 Hampton Road Fremantle (later renumbered to 6 Hampton). Sadly his mother Annie died in Fremantle in 1913.
John Blaize then moved his family to 192 South Terrace Fremantle. (later renumbered to 166 South Tce).
On the 23rd August 1916, the 18 year old Sydney went into Fremantle to enlist into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 8 inches tall;
Weight - 138lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-36 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Black.
Upon his successful enlistment Sydney was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.82 Training Depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work here and then on the 14th September 1916 was assigned to the 18th Reinforcements to the 28th battalion. Sydney spent a further few weeks training with this group but on the 27th September 1916 was transferred to the 6th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion.
Sydney trained with this group for another six weeks and then on the 13th November 1916 he was transferred to the 7th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion. He would remain with this group in WA for another two months of training.
On the 29th January 1917 Sydney and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Miltiades. The ship then set sail for England, arriving at Devonport Harbour on the 27th March 1917.
Sydney and his group were then disembarked and sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Durrington. He then commenced a period of training over the next few months. On the 21st April 1917 Sydney got into trouble for taking part in a disturbance after lights out. As a punishment he was given seven days of Field Punishment No.2.
On the 7th May he got into further trouble by gambling after lights out in the barracks, for which he was punished with two days of Field Punishment No.2. This appears to have been his last infraction while in England and he continued his training till August 1917.
On the 20th August 1917 Sydney proceeded to France and upon arrival at Le Havre was sent into the 3rd Australian Division Depot. He had several days here but then was taken on strength of the 44th Battalion on the 1st September 1917.
The 44th Battalion were about to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. Sydney subsequently served through September to November 1917 seeing action at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele, coming through these actions without being wounded.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 44th Battalion held the line in Belgium south east of Ypres.
As a result of the German offensive on March 21st 1918 which broke through the British front line further south, the Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop the German advance. The 44th Battalion were sent to an area near the Somme River at Sailly-le-Sec and Sailly Laurette. The 44th Battalion advanced till they met the Germans in the field near Sailly Laurette and though the German fire stopped the 44th from advancing, the Germans were also stopped.
Sydney was an eyewitness to the downing of the Red Baron Manfed Von Richthofen.
Sydney and the 44th Battalion were in this sector for the next few months. On the 20th May 1918 Sydney was sent to hospital with influenza though fortunately it was not a severe case and hew as back with his unit on the 31st May 1918.
On the 4th July 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful capture of Hamel village. Sydney again came through this action unscathed.
On the 8th August 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful advance from the Villers-Bretonneux front and they took their objectives. The 44th Battalion advanced continually for the next several weeks, seeing action around Bray, Clery and Peronne.
On the 25th September 1918 Sydney was sent to England on a two week furlough. He rejoined the 44th Battalion in France on the 10th October 1918. Sydney had missed what would be the 44th battalion's last action of the war while he was in England.
The 44th battalion were then withdrawn for a rest period and they were still out of the line when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
However Sydney was not with them when the Armistice was announced as on the 21st October 1918 he had fallen ill and was sent to the 39th general Hospital at Le Havre. He rejoined his unit on the 3rd December 1918.
It was around this time that news came through that Sydney had been awarded the Military Medal. It was not for one event but for several actions since he had joined the unit. The official recommendations reads;
This soldier had acted as a Battalion runner since September 1917 and has on many occasions shown conspicuous courage in delivering messages in adverse conditions and under heavy enemy fire.
On the 4th October 1917 in the operations near Ypres he repeatedly carried messages under heavy shellfire and over open ground to the front line companies when no other means of communication was available.
At Villers-Bretonneux in May 1918 he carried despatches through an exceptionally heavy gas 'strafe' in very difficult circumstances.
On 4th July 1918 at Hamel he was engaged for three days continuously in running to the front line companies.
During the whole of the operations from 8th October to 2nd October 1918 he never failed to deliver his despatches with great expedition and he has throughout his service shown himself possessed of great courage, determination and resource.
While the recommendation had been made the Military Medal to Sydney was not officially announced till April 1919.
When the Germans had withdrawn to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. Sydney was with his unit from the 3rd December 1918 till 21st March 1919. He was then given a week's leave to England and returned to France on the 28th March 1919.
On the 21st April 1919 Sydney fell ill with venereal disease and was sent to the 51st General Hospital. He was there for a week and then on the 29th April 1919 was shipped to England where he was sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital.
In May 1919 Sydney was released from hospital and sent to No.3 Group Camp at Codford where he would wait to be assigned a berth on a transport ship home.
On the 1st July 1919 Sydney boarded the transport ship Karmala and set sail for home, arriving at Fremantle on the 10th August 1919.
Sydney was discharged from the AIF on the 15th September 1919.
Sydney got into serious trouble after returning home when he was in an altercation with police in Fremantle. As reported by the Sunday Times on the 2nd November 1919;
In 1929 at St Patricks Church in Fremantle Sydney married Bertha Frances Caporn. They then moved to Carrington Street in Palmyra. They were here for several years before moving to Beach Street Bicton.
In his latter years Sydney returned to Fremantle where he was living at 20 Walker Street.
Sydney Blaize died on the 8th November 1987 aged 89. He was cremated at Fremantle Cemetery.