SAPPER DAVID NORTON BLIZZARD
2891 – 3rd Tunnelling Company
Born at Circular Head, Tasmania, on 11 February 1883, David was the son of William and Sarah Jane (nee Alderson) Blizzard. William was a farmer.
The 1914 Electoral Roll records David living at Forest, Tasmania and working as a labourer.
David signed the ‘Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ on 18 January 1916 at Claremont, Tasmania.
A single Labourer by trade, he named as his Next-of-Kin his brother Mr. A. W. Blizzard of Forest, Tasmania.
A medical examination at Claremont on 19 January recorded that he was 32 years and 11 months of age. He was 5ft 9ins tall and weighed 170 lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair and was of the Methodist faith. Small scars on his right knee were recorded as distinguishing marks.
He signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ the same day.
On 27 March he was appointed to the 3rd Company, Miners Reinforcements and embarked at Melbourne, Victoria for the Western Front on 4 April 1916 on board HMAT A14 Euripides. The 80 Tunnellers on board Euripides disembarked at Alexandria.
David reported sick on 8 May and was admitted to the 17th General Hospital at Alexandria. He was discharged to duty on 12 June and embarked for overseas (England) on 29 July on board Arcadia.
On 9 August 1916 David was attached to Pioneer Training Battalion Reinforcements at Parkhouse. He was transferred to No.2 Camp from the Pioneer Battalion on 23 August 1916 and on 25 August was transferred to the 1st Mining Corps where he was taken on strength 31 August 1916.
He proceeded overseas to France on 15 October 1916 and marched in to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD), Etaples, on 19 October.
He marched out to the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company (3ATC) 23 November 1916 and was taken on strength of that unit the same day.
On 1 April 1917 he reported sick and was admitted to the 73rd Field Ambulance. He was transferred to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station the same day. On 7 April he was transferred by Barge to the 7th General Hospital, St Omer, with pneumonia.
He was evacuated from Boulogne to England on 17 April on board Hospital Ship St Donis and admitted to Ontario Military Hospital with lobar pneumonia.
He was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield on 11 May 1917.
Discharged from hospital to furlough on 24 May, he marched in to No.2 Command Depot, Weymouth on 8 June 1917. He transferred to No.4 Command Depot, Wareham on 16 June and marched out to the Overseas Training Depot, Perham Downs, on 4 August.
He proceeded overseas to France on 22 August and marched in to the AGBD, Rouelles, the next day, marching out on 27 August and rejoining his unit in the field on 30 August 1917.
He was due his Blue Chevrons in early September. Each blue Service Chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A red Chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.
David enjoyed some leave from France from 21 December 1917 until 4 January 1918.
In April 1918 he took part in the Battle of The Ly.
The Official War History records:
The 3ATC End-of-War report records:
David again proceeded on leave to England on 26 December 1918.
On 3 January 1919 at Ipswich, England, he married Florence Eliza Wilby, daughter of David Wilby, wood sawyer. Florence was a domestic cook aged 24 living at 8 Gibson Street, Ipswich. David was staying at Nunns Imperial Hotel, Dialham at the time.
He returned to France and rejoined his unit in the field on 11 January.
David left his unit on 6 May 1919 for return to Australia, marching in to the Australian Base Depot and leaving France on 9 May for England and marched in to No.4 Group.
He had been a member of 3ATC from his arrival in France in 1916 until his return to Australia. 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. The company was also heavily involved in road and bridge construction and the locating and clearing of enemy mines and booby traps. This continued for the company for some months after the Armistice.
David returned to Australia with his wife Florence on board Indarra, leaving London on 12 July 1919 and disembarking at Melbourne on 6 September.
Discharged in Tasmania on 3 November 1919, David Norton Blizzard was entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. David returned to Forest and worked as a labourer.
His BWM was posted to him at Forest, Circular head on 31 August 1921.
In 1922 and 1928 the Electoral Roll records David working as a labourer at Smithton while Florence is performing home duties at Forest.
The 1928 Electoral Roll for Richmond, Victoria records David Morton Blizzard living at 13 McKay Street and working as a labourer. Also living at 13 McKay Street are Albert William Blizzard, George James Blizzard, Janet Alice Blizzard and Laveria Margaret Blizzard.
Florence Eliza is recorded living at 2A Banks Street performing home duties.
The 1931 Electoral Rolls record David living at 56 Baker Street, Richmond, Victoria and working as a timber worker. Also at 56 Baker Street are Albert William and George James Blizzard, both labourers.
In 1942 David is living at 385 Bridge Street, Richmond working as a labourer.
David Norton Blizzard died at Fitzroy on 20 March 1946, aged 65 years.
In June 1946 his medical and military records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Melbourne.
Davids’ brother and his 1st cousin also served in WW1. Both men served with the 40th Australian Infantry Battalion and both men were killed in action on 5 October 1917 during the Battle of Broodseinde.
Brother : 2041 LANCE CORPORAL ERIC LABAN BLIZZARD served with the 40th Battalion and also named his brother was A.W. (Alfred William) Blizzard as his Next-of-Kin.
Eric was 26 years and 8 months of age when he enlisted on 13 July 1916 at Claremont. A labourer by trade, he had fair hair and blue eyes. An operation scar and a scar on his left knee ere recorded as distinguishing marks.
He embarked at Melbourne with the 40th Battalion on 23 September 1916 on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon, disembarking at Plymouth, England on 9 December 1916 and marching in to the 10th Training Battalion, Larkhill, the next day.
On 18 December he was charged with failing to appear at a place of parade and awarded 21 days detention.
He proceeded overseas to France on 5 April 1917 and marched in to the Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples. He marched out to join his unit on 8 April and was taken on strength of the 40th Battalion on 11 April.
Eric was appointed Lance Corporal on 22 June 1917.
Eric was killed in action on 5 October 1917 and was buried at map reference 28.D.20.a. 5.3., at a point North West of Zonnebeke.
In October 1918, Eliza E. Horton signed for a package of Eric’s personal effects which had been returned to Australia.
In September 1922 the War Gratuity of £75–19-6 in respect of Eric’s services was paid to Eliza Elizabeth Horton, noted to be sister and foster-mother of the deceased.
Base Records wrote to his Next-of-Kin in May 1923 regarding the disposal of War Medals in respect of Eric’s service.
In June 1923 Eric’s eldest brother, Alred William Blizzard, wrote back requesting that the medals be forwarded to him at Smithton, advising that both parents were dead.
In July 1923 Alfred received the pamphlet “Where The Australians Rest”; the Memorial Scroll & King’s message; the Memorial Plaque and the British War Medal and Victory Medal in respect of Eric’s service.
In February 1928 Base records wrote to his Next-of-Kin advising during the course of the Imperial War Graves Commissions exhumation work North West of Zonnebeke, Eric’s remains had been recovered.
In 1929, Base Records wrote to Mrs. E.E. Horton seeking the current address of Eric’s brother so they could communicate with him regarding the erection of a permanent headstone over Eric’s grave.
LEST WE FORGET
1st cousin : 345 PRIVATE JAMES LEWIS BLIZZARD served with the 40th Infantry Battalion and named his wife Lucy Louisa (nee Enniss) Blizzard as his Next-of-Kin and allotted two-fifths of his pay for the support of his wife, there being no children.
A labourer by trade, James was 23 years and 4 months of age when he enlisted at Hobart on 9 February 1916. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and ruddy hair.
He embarked on HMAT A35 Berrima at Hobart on 1 July 1916, arriving at Devonport, England on 22 August.
On 29 September 1916 he was charged with refusing to obey an order and was awarded 3 days Confined to Camp. He proceeded overs to France on 23 November 1916.
He reported sick on 11 January 1917 and was admitted to the 10th Australian Field Ambulance with scarlet fever. He rejoined his unit in the filed on 10 January.
James was killed in action on 5 October 1917 and was buried in the field in the vicinity of map reference D15. D.0.0.
The Examiner, Launceston of 27 October 1917 reported: “Word has been received at Stanley of the death of Privates Eric Blizzard and James Blizzard. Both were natives of Forest. The last-named was married and he was well known as a footballer.”
According to the Circular Head Chronicle of 31 October 1917, both James and Eric were held in high regard. The following comment was made after their death: ‘Both were fine strapping young fellows – typical specimens of our best Tasmanian manhood, and it is a tragic thing indeed to see such splendid lads being mown down like the grass before the scythe, to gratify the heartless god of battles.’
A memorial was held for Eric & James at the St. Bartholomew’s Church on Sunday 18 November 1917.
Lucy was granted a War Pension of 40 shillings per fortnight effective from 24 December 1917, and James daughter, Rosanna Zella Edith Blizzard was granted a pension on 20 shillings per fortnight
James’ personal effects were received by his widow in October 1918.
In March 1922, responding to a Base Records request for information, Lucy advised that she was not in favour of a headstone for her husbands grave as she was not in circumstances to pay for a headstone and was never likely to see the grave or headstone. She emphatically stated that she was not going to pay for the headstone. She also indicated that she had re-married and was now Mrs. L. Etchell
In September 1922 Lucy wrote to base Records and advised that she had received their parcel and also inquired about military compensation and furlough pay to which she may be entitled.
The Memorial Plaque, Memorial Scroll & King’s Message, and the pamphlet “Where The Australians Rest”, were received by Lucy in 1922.
The British War Medal, Victory Medal were forward to his widow, (re-married) Mrs. L. Etchell, in 1923 and 1924.
In 1929 Zella Blizzard wrote to Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, inquiring about a ‘gold medal’ that had been received by others. Base records advised that War Medals of her father had been issued to her mother.
The names of Eric Labin Blizzard and James Lewis Blizzard are located at Panel 132 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.
James and Eric are commemorated on the Cenotaph at Stanley, Tasmania.
Eric and James Blizzard are also commemorated at Stanley, Tasmania. A Centenary of Anzac project involved local students from Circular Head Christian School and Smithton High School researching 86 fallen soldiers pertaining to Circular Head.
Each soldier was given a paver which contains personal details. The pavers form the nucleus of a commemorative area located at the Godfrey’s Beach precinct.
Sue Smedley, a member of the Circular Head RSL WWI Centenary Committee and coordinator of the Stanley project, said the close proximity to the foreshore and outlook on to the steep cliffs of the Nut and the rolling Green Hills is ideal in mirroring the feel of Gallipoli.
LEST WE FORGET
© Donna Baldey 2016
with the assistance of Jacqueline & Sue Smedley
research for Eric & James Blizzard by pupils of the schools mentioned above