George Francis BLAKE

Regimental number4737
Place of birthFootscray, Victoria
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCarpenter
AddressBellrieve, Bowen Street, Camberwell, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 3.5"
Weight121 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs J Blake, Bellrieve, Bowen Street, Camberwell, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date12 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name8th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/25/5
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 7 March 1916
Rank from Nominal RollLance Corporal
Unit from Nominal Roll59th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularEnlisted 12 July 1915 - 8th Bn, 1th Reinforcements. Taken on strength, 58th Bn, 20 April 1916.
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Age at death27
Place of burialRation Farm Military Cemetery (Plot VI, Row D, Grave No. 49), La Chapelle d'Armentieres, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
167
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength of 58th Bn, Ferry Post, from 2nd Training Bn, 20 April 1916.

Transferred to 59th Bn, 19 May 1916; taken on strength of 59th Bn, Ferry Post, 19 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Posted missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 420102, 2618 Pte J. FISHER, A Company, 59th Bn (patient, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, England), 18 January 1917: 'I saw Blake lying dead out in No Mans (sic) Land. This was in our attack at Fromelles on July 19/16. He was the only Blake in A Coy.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.'
SourcesNAA: B2455, BLAKE George Francis
Red Cross file 420102