The AIF Project

Walter BLEZARD

Regimental number3994
Place of birthSeaforth, Liverpool, England
SchoolLiverpool College, England
Age on arrival in Australia28
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationStation hand
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 11"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs D Blezard, 57 Lisburn Lane, Tuebrook, Liverpool, England
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date4 August 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name6th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/23/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 23 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll6th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Recommendation date: 'Valuable services in carrying despatches under very heavy fire, showing absolute fearlessness and devotion to duty. (East of Ypres)'

FateDied of wounds 24 April 1918
Place of death or woundingCaestre, France
Date of death24 April 1918
Age at death35
Age at death from cemetery records35
Place of burialCaestre Communal Cemetery (Plot I, Row A, Grave No. 10), France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
46
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Name given on CWGC site as Walton BLEZARD. Wife: Mrs D. BLEZARD, 57 Lisburn Lane, Tuebrook, Liverpool, England
Medals

Military Medal

'For great gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on DECLINE COPSE, East of YPRES on 26th October, 1917 this man carried despatches all day under the heaviest shell fire showing absolute fearlessness and disregard for peronal safety in the performance of his important duty.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 95
Date: 27 June 1918

Family/military connectionsBrother: 4892 Pte John Frederick BLEZARD, 31st Bn, discharged, 15 March 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 6th Bn, Serapeum, 22 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 26 March 1918; disembarked Marseilles, France, 2 April 1916.

Found guilty, 3 August 1916, of being absent from afternoon parade, 1 August 1916: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 29 September 1916, of (1) being out of Billeting area without a pass; (2) being improperly dressed; (3) not complying with an order given by an NCO: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 3 August 1916, of being absent without leave from afternoon parade: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 19 October 1916, of being absent from Billet without a pass: awarded 72 hours' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 17 November 1916, of being absent without leave from 9 pm, 15 November, till 9 am, 16 November 1916: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited a total of 23 days' pay.

Found guilty, 16 January 1917, of being absent without leave from 8.30 pm, 11 January, till 6 am, 13 January 1917: Awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2; forfeited a total of 31 days' pay.

Found guilty, 21 February 1917, of being absent from duty without leave, 19 February 1917: awarded 72 hours; Field Punishment No 2.

On leave to United Kingdom, 21 August 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, from leave, 7 September 1917.

Wounded in action (remained at duty), 4 October 1917.

Awarded Military Medal.

On leave to United Kingdom, 9 February 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, from leave, 4 March 1918.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 24 April 1918.

Died of wounds, 24 April 1918.

Statement, Red Cross File No 0421005C, 3452 Pte T.F. SHEEHY, 6th Bn, 22 June 1918: 'I knew him well, he was a runner to D. Coy. tall, with back slightly bent[,] had the MM. I carried him wounded to the D/Station, and he died there. When the dDoctor looked at him he was dead. He was left for the Battn burying party to bury. This was at Strazeele.'

Second statement, 788 Pte J.H. EDNEY, D Company, 6th Bn (patient, 25th General Hospital, Hardelot, France), 3 July 1918: 'We were holding the line near Strazeele, towards the end of April, and Blezard and I were on fatigue parties when he got hit in the neck by a piece of shell. He was carried to the R.A.P. where he died, and was buried the day after just outside Caestre. I saw him taken away for burial but did not see the grave.'

Third statement, 3726 Pte A.E. DENT, D Company, 6th Bn (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 5 July 1916: 'He was in a ration party about 100 yards from me at Strazeele station at 10.15 p.m. about April 24th, when he was hit in the head by a piece of shell. I saw him get up and walk a few yards but he dropped and was dead when the S/Bs picked him up. He was H.Q. runner and had the M.M. He came with the 12th Rfts. We called him "Major".'

Fourth statement, 6328 Pte W. ORAM, C Company, 6th Bn (patient, Hagle Place VAD Hospital, Maidstone, England), 10 July 1918: 'I was a stretcher bearer, Blezard was a runner in D. Company. He was killed at Trezelle [sic] in front of Hazebruck [sic]. He was hit in the neck and bled to death at the doctor's dressing station. He was buried in the cemetery at Trezelle where some other men of the Battalion are buried and a cross put to mark the grave.'

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BLEZARD Walter
Red Cross File No 0421005C

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