Category Archives: Recruits

Henry James Naughton BLAKEMAN

Per his military service record (regimental no. 4442), Henry James Naughton Blakeman was born at York, Western Australia. He gave his age as 21 years and 5 months, his marital status as single, and his occupation as plumber. (However his Certificate of Discharge in his service record states he was only 17 years of age when he enlisted, and his birth was registered in Western Australia in 1898).[1] His description on his medical was height 5 feet 8 inches tall, weight 122 lbs., with a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. He claimed that he had had 6 months previous military service with the Cadets and served 3 years with the 41^st Infantry.

He was attested at Lithgow by Captain Eade on 2^nd November 1915, when the Coo-ees were at Lithgow, and completed his medical on 3^rd November 1915 at Lithgow.

After completing the Coo-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was Bowenfels, Cascade Street, Katoomba, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, H. N. [Henry Naughton] Blakeman, at the same address.

On 16^th February 1916 Private Blakeman was one of the first group of Coo-ees to embark overseas on active service, and departed Sydney on the HMAT Ballarat A70 as 14^th reinforcement for the 13^th Battalion.

HMAT Ballarat A70, 18/2/1916. Photograph from the AWM Collection PB0182.

The HMAT Ballarat A70 arrived in Egypt on 22^nd March 1916.

On 1^st April 1916 Private Dawson, (along with the other Coo-ees he had travelled to Egypt with), was transferred to the 54^th Battalion at Ferry Post.

On 23^rd May 1916 Private Blakeman was sent to a Field Ambulance suffering from Abcess. On 25^th May 1916 he was transferred to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station at Ferry Post in Egypt. On 28^th May 1916 he was discharged and rejoined his unit.

On 19^th June 1916 Private Blakeman left Alexandria aboard H.T. Caledonian bound for France, and arrived at Marseilles on 29^th June 1916.

On the night of the 19/20^th July 1916 Private Blakeman was with the 54^th Battalion when it participated in the Battle of Fromelles in France. During the battle he was wounded in action, suffering a shrapnel wound to his left thigh, and was sent to a Field Ambulance.

On 21^st July 1916 he was sent back to the 32^nd Stationary Hospital at Wimereux, France. On 22^nd July 1916 he was placed aboard the Hospital Ship Cambria at Boulogne in France for evacuation to England. The next day, on 23^rd July 1916, he was admitted to the Chatham Military Hospital at Chatham, England.

On 13^th October 1916 Private Blakeman was discharged from hospital and granted leave to report to the Number 1 Command Depot at Pernham Downs, England on 28^th October 1916.

On 1^st November 1916 he was transferred to the 14^th Training Battalion at Wareham, England.

On 12^th November 1916 Private Blakeman departed Folkestone, England aboard the Transport Princess Clementine bound for France. He marched out to rejoin the 54^th Battalion on 15^th November 1916 when it was training at Rainneville in France.[2]

On 1^st February 1917 Private Blakeman was sent to the 15^th Australian Field Ambulance suffering Trench Feet.

On 11^th February 1917 he was moved back to a Casualty Clearing Station with Septic Feet. On 12^th February 1917 he was placed aboard the 15^th Ambulance Train and transferred to the 12^th General Hospital at Rouen in France, where he was admitted on 13^th February 1917.

On 3^rd March 1917 he was transferred to the 2^nd Convalescent Depot.

He was discharged on 13^th March 1917, and marched into the 5^th Division Base Depot at Etaples, France.

On 17^th March 1917 Private Blakeman departed the 5^th Division Base Depot and re-joined the 54^th Battalion on 18^th March 1917, which was in the vicinity of Beaulencourt in France.[3]

On 19^th April 1917 Private Blakeman was sent to the 8^th Australian Field Ambulance suffering from Enteritis. On 20^th April 1917 he was moved back to a Casualty Clearing Station, then to the 5^th Division Rest Station.

He was discharged on 11^th May 1917 and rejoined the 54^th Battalion on 12^th May 1917, when it was at Noreuil in France, preparing to move into the front line at the Hindenburg Line in the vicinity of Reincourt, France.[4]

On 9^th July 1917 Private Blakeman was detached to the 14^th Machine Gun Company.

On 28^th August 1917 he was transferred from the 54^th Battalion to the 14^th Machine Gun Company, which later became part of the 5^th Machine Gun Battalion.

On 3^rd February 1918 Private Blakeman went on leave to England. He returned to the 5^th Machine Gun Battalion on 20^th February 1918.

After the Armistice, on 19^th November 1918 Private Blakeman went on leave to England.

He returned to the 5^th Machine Gun Battalion on 3^rd December 1918.

On 22^nd January 1919 Private Blakeman was detached for duty at the Corps workshops. He returned to the 5^th Machine Gun Battalion on 2^nd March 1919.

On 22^nd March 1919 Private Blakeman marched into the Australian Base Depot at Le Harve in France.

On 1^st April 1919 he departed Le Harve in France, and arrived at Weymouth in England on 2^nd April 1919, and marched in to Number 2 Command Depot.

Private Blakeman departed Devonport in England on 15^th May 1919 for return to Australia, aboard the H.T. Orontes. He disembarked at Sydney on 1^st July 1919.

He was discharged from the AIF Termination of Period of Enlistment on 23^rd August 1919.

[1] WA Birth Registration 1898, Number 5054, Henry James Naughton Blakeman / Henry Naughton Blakeman and Annie Catherine Kelly.

[2] AWM4 23/71/10 – November 1916, Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, 54^th Battalion.

[3] AWM4 23/71/14 – March 1917, Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, 54^th Battalion.

[4] AWM4 23/71/16 – May 1917, Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War, 54^th Battalion.