Captain Leslie Russell Blake MM PM

Captain Leslie Russell Blake MM PM

P.004

Maria Louisa Blake'. (1892). Death Record (6630/1892). Victoria Births Deaths and Marriages, Victoria, Australia.

'Leslie Russell Blake'. (1890). Birth Record (33272/1890). Victoria Births Deaths and Marriages, Victoria, Australia.

'Thomas Henry Blake'. (1897). Death Record (5376 /1897). Victoria Births Deaths and Marriages, Victoria, Australia.

'Thomas Henry Blake'. (1879). Marriage Record (195050 /1879). Victoria Births Deaths and Marriages, Victoria, Australia.

'Vera Rosetta Blake'. (1888). Birth Record (12031/1888). Victoria Births Deaths and Marriages, Victoria, Australia.

'Leslie Russell Blake'. (3 October 1918). Burial Record (Tincourt New British Cemetery, V.J.4). Commonwealth War Graves, UK. Retrieved: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/255127/leslie-russell-blake/

Bean, C. E. W. (2014). Anzac to Amiens. Penguin: London.

Gorman, M. L. (2005). Captain Leslie Russell Blake and Aberdeen University's penguin egg. Current Biology, 15(11), R402-R405.

London Gazette. (1916). Lt. Leslie Russell Blake, Fd. Arty. (24 November 1916, Supp. 29837, P. 11548) Retrieved: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29837/supplement/11548

National Archives of Australia: Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office; B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920; BLAKE L R, Blake Leslie Russell : SERN CAPT 7306, 1914 – 1920.

Dartnall, H. J. (2012). Antarctic vignettes VI: Leslie Russell Blake—Mawson's forgotten geologist. In Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania (Vol. 146, pp. 57-62). Retrieved: https://eprints.utas.edu.au/22525/13/06%20Dartnall.pdf

Australian Antarctic Program. (2019). Southern Ocean to the Somme. Retrieved https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2019/anzac-day-2019/

Silent Soldiers of Naours. (n.d.). Leslie Russell Blake. Retrieved: http://www.silentsoldiersofnaours.com/uploads/8/1/0/0/81000584/5._blake_final.pdf

Australian War Memorial: Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18; AWM4 13/33, Headquarters, 5th Australian Field Artillery Brigade.

Australian War Memorial: Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18; AWM4 13/11, Headquarters, 2nd Australian Divisional Artillery.

Australian War Memorial: Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18; AWM4 13/44, Headquarters, 22nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade.

Hadnutt, N. (15 May, 2020). Digging in the archaeology collection. Queensland Museum Network Blog. https://blog.qm.qld.gov.au/2020/05/15/digging-in-the-archaeology-collection/

Queensland Museum Donor Schedule #22/69 A (1922).

Queensland Museum Ethnology Register, E1563.

Matthews, Tony. (2000). Bearing the palm : a century of education at the Southport School.  Southport, Qld :  Southport School.

Nissen, Judith Anne. & The Southport School, issuing body. (2014). To honour your name: in memory of the Southport School Old Boys who lost their lives in the Great War.  Southport, Qld: The Southport School.

Unidentified, & Queenslander. (n.d.). Page 25 of the Queenslander Pictorial, Supplement to The Queenslander, 2 November, 1918.

THE ROLL OF HONOUR. CASUALTY LIST NO. 346. (1917, October 29). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 8. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20195153

ON HONOUR'S ROLL. (1918, October 21). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 8. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20266755

PERSONAL (1918, October 31). Darling Downs Gazette (Qld. : 1881 - 1922), p. 4. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176361823

PERSONAL (1918, October 19). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242730767

ROLL OF HONOUR. (1918, November 23). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 14. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20252848

SOUTHPORT SCHOOL CHAPEL. (1927, November 14). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 19. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article21193809

Notes and News. (1913, June 17). Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld. : 1868 - 1919), p. 3. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190694003

DOLLY'S RETURN FROM THE TRENCHES. (1916, April 12). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 7. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20124059

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY. (1907, July 25). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 4. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19368631

BACK FROM THE ICE. (1914, March 24). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 5. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19967935

PERSONAL. (1911, November 18). Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld. : 1868 - 1919), p. 3. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article190880902

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION (1911, November 24). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 7. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19757224

PERSONAL. (1914, March 13). The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), p. 9. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19956696

TOWN & COUNTRY (1916, November 29). Cairns Post (Qld. : 1909 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40401066

Military Honours. (1916, November 27). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 3. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article176371264

MEN (1917, October 5). Graphic of Australia (Melbourne, Vic. : 1916 - 1918), p. 9. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article153077676

Technical College. (1904, December 23). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 3 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article173919845

MACQUARIE ISLAND STATION. (1913, March 1). The Maitland Weekly Mercury (NSW : 1894 - 1931), p. 7. Retrieved November 4, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127858857

Unknown Official Australian Photographer. (1917). The effect of a 9.2 inch British shell on a German reinforced concrete dugout [Black & white - Glass original whole plate negative]. Australian War Memorial, Canberra. E00665 = https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E00665

Hurley, J. F. (1917). An interior view of the dugout occupied by officers of the 105th Howitzer Battery [Black & white - Glass original whole plate negative]. Australian War Memorial, Canberra. E00661 = https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E00661

Unknown Official Australian Photographer. (1917). Studio portrait of 7306 Gunner (Gnr) Leslie Russell Blake, 5th Field Artillery Brigade. Australian War Memorial, Canberra. P07842.001= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1227998

C.004.001

Mr James Donaldson

Leslie Russell Blake MC PM MID was born on 28 October 1890 at Hawthorn, Victoria, the youngest of six children to Thomas Henry and Maria Louisa Blake (nee Purdey). Thomas was born in Suffolk, England and emigrated in 1873, while Maria was born in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). They married in Victoria in 1878. Blake's eldest brother, William Henry was born in Victoria in 1879 before the family moved to Queensland for several years. Here a brother, Charles John Kilby (b. 1881), and two sisters, Beatrice Elizabeth (b. 1883) and Ruby Ethel (b. 1885), were born. The family then returned to Victoria where another sister, Vera Rosetta (b. 1888), and finally Leslie joined the family.

Tragically, both parents would die before Leslie's 8th birthday: his mother in 1892 and his father (who remarried in 1893) in 1897. Blake and two of his step sisters (Una Queenie b. 1895 and Tessie Hawthorne b. 1897) where apparently raised in Queensland by their father's sister, Charlotte Jane Deazeley. After studying at the Southport School (1906-7) and the Brisbane Technical College, Blake was admitted to the Sydney University after passing the 1907 Junior Examination. Following his tertiary studies he entered the public service as a Surveyor with the Queensland Geological Survey Department.

Between 1911 and 1913 Blake was one of five men stationed on Macquarie Island as part of Mawson's Australian Antarctic Expedition. Blake served as the expedition's cartographer and geologist and while on Macquarie Island in 1912, acquired the egg of a Royal Penguin, now in the Zoology Museum at Aberdeen University. Blake collected geological samples and performed a survey of the Island, creating maps that were used for most of the 20th century. Cape Blake on Macquarie Island is named after him and for his part in the expedition, he was awarded the Polar Medal (PM). After returning from the expedition in 1914, several newspaper articles appeared featuring interviews with Blake before he returned to his work in the Gympie goldfields with the Queensland Geological Survey.

Blake enlisted in Brisbane on 26 July 1915 (Service Number 7306) and was made a gunner in the 13th Battery of the 5th Field Artillery Brigade (5 FAB) at only 24 years old. His next of kin was his elder brother, William Henry Blake. Blake had previously tried to enlist but was rejected on medical grounds as he was suffering from 'hydrocele' (swelling of the scrotum) and had to undertake an operation. By the time his unit embarked on HMAT Persic at Sydney on 18 November 1915, Blake had already been promoted to Sergeant. The 5 FAB reach Egypt on 21 December 1915, a day after the last Australians evacuated Suvla and ANZAC beaches at Gallipoli.

The unit spent the first months of 1916 training and equipping in Egypt. In March 1916 Blake was transferred to the newly formed 22nd Howitzer Brigade's 105th Battery at Zeuiton. Here Blake received a field commission, being promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 12 March. By the end of March unit had arrived in France, and on 10 April they entered the line at Armentieres where they would remain into May. On 13 May Blake's 105th Howitzer Battery was transferred back to his original unit, the 5th Field Artillery Brigade as part of a restructure.

From May to July 1916 the unit was in the artillery lines at L'Armee outside Armentieres, undertaking barrages on German sectors. The weather was wet and there was a constant threat of enemy artillery and gas attack. Blake maintained contact with friends in Gympie during the war. An article in the Brisbane Courier dated 12 April 1916 describes a letter from Blake received by two young girls from Gympie who had sent him a 'billy' (cooking pot). In it a lively Blake describes the constant excavation required for gun emplacements, and chance meetings with other men from Gympie.

July saw the 5 FAB move into reserve around Amiens, before taking up a new position in the artillery lines behind Pozieres, south of their original position. Here the Brigade provided artillery support as part of the First Battle of the Somme and in particular, the Battle of Pozieres. On 18 July the 5 FAB moved to a new position at La Boiselle between Pozieres and Albert.

On 21 August Blake volunteered to make a survey of the allied lines from Pozieres to Moquet Farm, to ensure that allied artillery had accurate trench maps. Blake was wounded, apparently by an enemy sniper, during this dangerous work which involved surveying front line trenches under heavy fire during the Battle of Pozieres. For this survey Blake was awarded the Military Cross and was promoted to full Lieutenant. His citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry in action. He carried out reconnaissances under very heavy fire with great courage and determination, obtaining most valuable information.” A letter written by his brother, W.H. Blake, records that Blake sent his medal to his fiancée, Frances Eileen Elliot, in Brisbane. During the investiture ceremony for the Military Cross, Blake's Polar Medal reportedly caught the eye of King George V who discussed the expedition with him for several minutes, a remarkable change to the usual proceedings for such occasions.

For the remainder of 1916 the 5 FAB moved north and was stationed at various places in Belgium. They moved to Ypres in September, Flers in October and to Naours for a period of rest in December and January. On 7 January 1917, while at Naours, Blake visited the Underground City of Naours, a large underground limestone quarry dating to the 17th century. Blake joined over 2000 Australian soldiers in writing his name, rank and unit on the cave wall.

On 21 January 1917 Blake was transferred to the 2nd Divisional Artillery Headquarters to serve as a Staff Reconnaissance officer, a sort of specialist surveyor attached to the Headquarters unit. The unit was undergoing a reorganisation and Blake was brought in to compile intelligence summaries, liaise with other units about forthcoming actions, and provide training in map reading and topography to non-commissioned officers in artillery units. During this time, the Second Battle of Arras took place (9 April – 16 May 1917). Blake spent several days with the 5th Divisional Artillery in late April and in May was stationed near Bullecourt where heavy fighting took place over several weeks.

On 12 June 1917 Blake proceeded to England on 10 days leave and after his return, he was detached for duty with his original unit, the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, who were training behind the lines at Aveluy near Pozieres. On 17 July the unit moved north to Dickebusch outside Ypres in Belgium, in order to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres (31 July – 6 November 1917).

On 18 August the unit moved to Larchwood, near Ypres, and here Blake met Captain Frank Hurley, the Australian Official Photographer. The pair knew each other from their time on Mawson's Antarctic expedition and Hurley took two photographs featuring Blake that are now in the Australian War Memorial Collection. In one, dated 27 August 1917, Blake is seen with Lieutenant David Ballantyne Ikin and Major Herbert Norman Morris, commanding officer of the 105th Howitzer Battery, in a dugout.

September 1917 was spent around Ypres where heavy fighting occurred during the Battle of Menin Road Ridge (20-25 September). On 25 September Blake received a gunshot wound to his right forearm which miraculously passed straight through the arm without causing bone or nerve damage. The only lasting injury was a slight effect on the movement of his finger. Despite this lucky escape, Blake was still evacuated to the 6th Australian Field Ambulance before being passed on to the 3rd Casualty Clearing station and the 2nd Red Cross Hospital at Rouen, France. In October 1917 he embarked for England for treatment at the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth and the Sutton Veny Hospital.

By 5 Jan 1918 Blake had returned to the 5 FAB at Oosthove Farm north of Armentieres. A period of rest behind the lines followed at Alquines in February and early March before the unit returned to Oosthove Farm.
By May 1918 the unit had been moved south to Querrieu outside Amiens, in preparation for the planned Amiens Offensive (August – September 1918). Here Blake was promoted to the rank of Captain and in late July was sent to the Australian Flying Corps for a two day liaison course. August saw the 5 FAB involved in the first actions of the 100 Days Offensive around Amiens, which saw allied troops make significant advances to the east of Amiens. Following these actions Blake was granted a long period of leave from 21 August until 15 September 1918.

On 2 October 1918, Blake having returned to his unit, the 5 FAB was ordered to move forward and take up a new position in support of an infantry attack towards Estrees, St Quentin. This area had seen significant fighting in the later stages of the Amiens Offensive in September. Blake was on horseback and in charge of some ammunition wagons at a railway between Nauroy and Estrees when he was hit by a shell and received multiple catastrophic injuries, including an amputated left leg and shell wounds to his left thigh, face and skull. He was evacuated by the 5th Australian Field Ambulance to the 59th Casualty Clearing Station at Tincourt, but died of his wounds soon after being admitted on the morning of 3 October 1918. It was less than two months before the Armistice wound be signed, ceasing hostilities on the Western Front.

Blake is buried at Tincourt New British Cemetery, Plot 5, Row J, Grave 4. He was remembered as a “very decent chap” by one of the men under his command. In addition to his Polar Medal, Blake was awarded the Military Cross, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (denoting a mention in despatches) for his service. Blake's portrait appeared in the Queenslander Pictorial Supplement on 2 November 1918 accompanying the report of his death.

In November 1927, a silver altar flagon was presented in memory of Blake to the St Alban's Chapel at the Southport School by Mr Charles Elliot, father of Blake's fiancé Miss Frances Elliot. Blake's name also appears on the chapel's war memorial board, alongside those other TSS Old Boys who had served, or died, during the war.

In early April 1919, six months after Blake's death, a Mr Wilcox, representing the Geological Survey of Queensland, donated a Neolithic polished stone axe, inscribed “E1563 Harbonnieres Coll. By L.R. Blake, M.C. 1918” to the Queensland Museum. Based on the location and date, the artefact must have been collected by Blake between May and October 1918, while stationed outside Amiens, France, but it is unknown how it made its way back to the Geological Survey of Queensland in Brisbane. Various other items, mostly geological samples from his time on Macquarie Island, were registered in Blake's name at the Queensland Museum in the following years.

It has not been possible to consult Blake's Private Records at the Australian War Memorial during the compilation of this profile, or his diary detailing his role in the Antarctic Expedition which is held by the State Library of Victoria.

Captain

105th Howitzer Battery, 5th Australian Field Artillery Brigade

Headquarters, 2nd Australian Divisional Artillery

28/10/1890

3/10/1918