SAPPER MARTIN BLAKE
4278 – 3rd Tunnelling Company
Born at St Kilda, Victoria, about 1867, Martin was the son of John Blake and Ellen (nee Coen).
The Electoral Rolls for 1903/1905 record Martin Blake, Miner, living at McDonald Street, Kalgoorlie. In 1910 he is recorded as a Carter living at 320 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie. In 1912 and 1914 he is at 26 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie employed as a Labourer. In 1916 he is living at 152 Egan Street, Kalgoorlie, employed as a labourer.
[4434 Sapper Joseph Nunn-Pendle 3ATC; 2406 Sapper Francis Joseph Salmon, 3ATC]
On 13 January 1916 at Kalgoorlie, Western Australia (WA), a medical examination recorded that Martin was 43 years and 2 months of age. He stood 5ft 7ins tall and weighed 156 lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and was of the Roman Catholic faith.
Martin signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ stating that he was a Miner by trade and naming his mother, Mrs. E. Blake of Havelock Street, St Kilda, as his Next-of-Kin.
Later his Next-of-Kin was changed to his brother, Thomas Blake, C/o F. McEvoy & Son, Market Street, Melbourne.
Although he answered ‘No’ to having previous service in a military unit, a pencil entry reads: ‘fought under Lynch, Irish Bdge, SA’.
At Blackboy Hill on 17 January he signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ and his training began at 43 Depot Battalion the same day.
At Belmont, WA on 23 March he was appointed to No.6 Tunnelling Company.
Two Sections of the Northern recruits to form the No.4 Company had embarked from Brisbane, Queensland early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.
At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.
The 7713 ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No.5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Australia & Tasmania consisting of a Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs.
Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916, No.6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs embarked and Warilda departed the same day for the European theatre.
Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916.
Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where soldiers going Absent Without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather and terminated at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front.
He proceeded overseas to France on 28 August 1916 and marched in to the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot (2ADBD) on 30 August. He marched out on 25 September to join the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company (3ATC), where he was taken on strength on 30 September 1916.
3ATC first saw action at Boars Head in the lead up the Fromelles diversion ‘stunt’ of July 1916. The Company was allocated to the First Army and were engaged variously at Laventie-Fauquissart, Givenchy, Loos, Lens, Double Crassiers and Vermelles and other places on the Western Front.
On 27 November 1916 at the ‘Black Watch Sap’, Hill 70, an enemy camouflet (or a premature explosion, depending on different accounts) killed 20 members of the company. The next day 2 more members were killed in the same area by an enemy camouflet. The 22 members of 3ATC were buried in 14 adjacent graves at the Hersin Communal Cemetery Extension.
The Companies major effort was at Hill 70 where they constructed the extensive Hythe Tunnel system.
On 6 September 1916 his brother Harry wrote to Base records seeking Martins’ address whilst overseas. The correct address was provided on 12 September.
In September 1917 Martin was granted leave to England, to report back to his unit on 17 September. He reported sick on 22 September, whilst on leave in England, and was admitted to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital at Southall.
The same day he was charged with being Absent Without Leave (AWL) from 7.30am on 17 September until 21 September. He was awarded 15 days forfeiture of pay as punishment, making a total forfeiture of 20 days pay.
A Medical Report completed at the Hospital on 28 October recorded:
‘Developed haemorrhoids during 1914, which condition became much worse during 1916.
23-9-17. Admitted No.2 A.A.H.
8-10-17. Haeorrhoids removed.’
The Report found that he was permanently unfit for general service and for home service. He was discharged from hospital on 30 October 1917 to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth.
Martin left London on 11 January 1918 for return to Australia on board H.T Port Darwin.
On 8 February his brother George wrote to Base Records on behalf of his mother asking if Martin, having enlisted in Western Australia, would have to return to that place. George was advised that Martin would normally be returned to Western Australia but could, if he paid the cost, return to another District.
Martin disembarked at Albany, WA on 26 February 1918.
A pre-discharge medical examination at No.8 Australian General Hospital, Fremantle on 1 March 1918 recorded: ‘Overage 50 years. Operation for haemorrhoids in England. Now well. General condition good. D.P.U. No incapacity’.
Discharged from the A.I.F in Fremantle on 15 March 1918 as being overage, he was entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
An ‘Application for War Service Leave Gratuity’ was issued on 24 May 1919.
Martin was admitted to No.11 Australian General Hospital on 16 March 1921.
It is noted on his military documents that he died at 8.45 p.m. on 14 May 1921 at No.11 AGH. Death was due to: (1) Aneurism, Arch, Aorta; (2) Heart failure. A copy was made for War Pensions.
He was buried at Brighton General Cemetery at 3 o’clock p.m. on Monday 16 May 1921 by a Priest of the Roman Catholic church, in Compartment R, grave number 118.
On 2 December 1921 his military and medical records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Melbourne.
On 11 February 1925 the Repatriation Commission, Melbourne, advised Base Records that no pension was being paid on behalf of Martin and that the Commission had no record of blood relations of Martin.
On 17 February 1925, Base Records wrote to his known Next-of-Kin, Mrs. E Blake, seeking family information which would allow the issue of Martins’ war medals.
His medals were never collected and were returned to Depot for storage in September 1924.
Donna Baldey 2015
ADDENDUM