The AIF Project

Charles Thomas BLATCH

Regimental number2864
Place of birthAlbury, New South Wales
Other NamesEGAN, Henry Ambrose
Egan, HA
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
AddressAlbury, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 7.5"
Weight145 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Elizabeth Blatch, Dean Street, Albury, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date1 September 1916
Place of enlistmentGoulburn, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name56th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/73/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 25 October 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll56th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 20 November 1918
Discharge date9 February 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 25 October 1916; disembarked Devonport, England,28 December 1916.

Admitted to Military Hospital, Fovant, 27 January 1917 (bronchitis); discharged to Depot, 7 February 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 25 April 1917; taken on strength, 56th Bn, 30 April 1917.

Wounded in action, 16 May 1917 (shell shock), and admitted to 14th Australian Field Ambulance; transferred to 5th Divisional Rest Station, 16 May 1917 (contusions); discharged to unit, 23 May 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 23 May 1917.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 24 September 1917; rejoined unit, 3 October 1917 (no further details recorded; no record of admission to hospital).

On leave to United Kingdom, 20 February 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 10 March 1918.

Admitted to 55th Australian Field Ambulance, 9 April 1918 (self-inflicted wound: bullet wound, left knee: 'I was picking up some cigarette papers in a ruined house when a rifle was knocked or fell down and went off, the bullet passing through my left knee'); transferred to 1st USA General Hospital, 17 April 1918; to England, 24 april 1918, and admitted to City of London Military Hospital, 25 April 1918. transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 3 June 1918. Discharged on furlough, 5 June 1918, to report to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 19 June 1918.

By Statutory Declaration, 19 August 1918, stated true name to be Henry Ambrose EGAN,and that his next of kin was his mother, Mrs C. EGAN, Broadway, Junee, New South Wales.

Commenced return to Australia, 20 November 1918; disembarked Melboure, 5 January 1918, for onward travel to Sydney; discharged, Sydney (medically unfit), 9 February 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

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