The AIF Project

Harry Blanchard VIZE

Regimental number1442
Place of birthRockhampton, Queensland
SchoolBoys' Central School, Rockhampton, Queensland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationHorse breaker
Address162 Murray Street, Rockhampton, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 8.5"
Weight143 lbs
Next of kinFather, George Vize, 162 Murray Street, Rockhampton, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date7 December 1914
Place of enlistmentRockhampton, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name9th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/26/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on 13 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll9th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 28 June 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Age at death22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 32), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
57
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Margaret Sophia and George William VIZE
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Joined unit at Gallipoli, 4 May 1915.

Reported missing, Gaba Tepe, 28 June 1915.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field in France, 5 June 1916, declared fate to be 'killed in action, 28 June 1915'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 8398457, 1381 Pte L. McKAY, 3rd Brigade, AIF [cannot identify] (patient, No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 4 July [?1915]: On June 28th I saw H.B. Vize killed and he had to be left in the open as the Turks opened fire on us'.

Second statement, 1422 Pte W.H. SMITH, 9th Bn, 9 June 1916: 'I saw this man killed outright on the 28th June when we were having a bit of a demonstration on the right of Lone Pine. We just went out I believe to draw fire in order to relieve another paert of the line where there was an attack being made. Pte Vize was left out between the lines and was never brought in for he fell close to the Turks [sic] trenches.'

Third statement, 161 Sergeant Major P.J. LEWIS, C Company, 1st Pioneer Bn, 25 May 1916: 'Witness said he was with Vize on an advance in the night towards Loan's trenches, when Vize was shot through the forehead and died immediately. Witness gave the date as 9th. Aug. His evidence appeared quite reliable. He described Vize as a thin fellow, about 21 years of age, who came from Queensland.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, VIZE Harry Blanchard
Red Cross File No 8398457

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