BLATCHFORD, Herbert Albert

Herbert Albert Blatchford had no real connection with East Melbourne, save that his sister, Clara Blatchford, lived at Clivedon Mansions, on the corner of Wellington Parade and Clarendon St, East Melbourne, now the site of the Hilton Hotel. He was a skilled labourer, living in North Melbourne, who, in the post war  period, identfied himself as a fitter. He was single and aged 31. 

He was first sent to Royal Park and then transferred to Field Artillery training at Maribyrnong, before being attached to Field Artillery Reinforcements as a gunner. From here, he embarked the HMAT A37 'Port Lincoln' on 4 May, 1916, for Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt. Here he joined the Field Artillery Training School of the British Expeditionary Force. Following this training he was sent to the Australian Artillery Training Division in London and transferred to Park House, Cosham, England, on 10 September, 1916, attached to the 14 F.A.B.. Four months later, he was sent to France, leaving England on 2 January and arriving at Etaples on 6 January, 1917, to go to the Western Front.

On 19 January, 1917, he was finally taken on strength with the 13th Field Artillery Brigade, 113 Battery. The 13th was part of the 5th Division Artillery, which was made up of the 13th,14th,15th and 105 Field Artillery and had already fought in the costly assaults on German positions at Fromelles and Pozieres in 1916. After being rested  i nthe back lines over the winter, they now joined the major actions once more in 1917, at Bapaume in March, Bullecourt in May, Polygon Wood and Menin Road in September and Passchendaele in October. In all, the 5th Division would have 32,180 casualties.

On 10 November, Herbert Blatchford was wounded in action, with a gunshot wound to his right leg. On 12 November, he was transferred to the 18th General Hospital, before being shipped back to England and admitted to the No.6 Canadian General Hospital, where he stayed for six weeks, being discharged on 27 December, 1917. At this point, he was given a month's furlough and ordered to report to the No 2 Com. Depot at Weymouth. From here, he went to London, arriving on 13 January, 1918. On 10 March, 1918, his record reads "Gunner returned to Australia per S.S.Durham from England for charge (GSW right leg)." Perhaps they believed that the wound was self-inflicted, but no charges followed. On 19 May, 1918, he was discharged from service, the reason given being 'disability'.   A note on his record, dated 13/8/1920 read 'Stat. Desertn'.

Herbert Blatchford lived until 1950. In 1924, he was living in Chelsea with Caroline Daphne Blatchford, who may have been another sister or perhaps a first wife. He was alone, living in Chelsea and working as a fitter in 1931. From 1934-1949, he was living with his wife Margaret Mary Ann, still in Chelsea, still working as a fitter. After his death, she moved to Lakes Entrance.