BLAIR, John Thompson
| Service Number: | 2038 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 April 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 34th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Pitt Town, New South Wales, Australia, 17 April 1862 |
| Home Town: | Merewether, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Merewether, New South Wales, Australia, 1 September 1928, aged 66 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Sandgate General Cemetery, Newcastle, NSW METHODIST 3 (UNITING) C. 30. |
| Memorials: |
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell
Served during The Great War, now resting peacefully at Sandgate Cemetery.
93 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 3rd September 1928, Private John Thomson Blair, 34th Battalion (Reg No-2038), miner from "Blairathol", 27 Macquarie Street, Merewether, New South Wales, father of seven (Olga, Sadie, Audrey, Reg, Robert, Harold, Jack), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 66. METHODIST 3 (UNITING) C. 30.
Born at Pitt Town, Wallsend on the 17th April 1862 to Peter and Janet Blair; husband of Margaret Blair nee Buxton (married 1885, Wallsend, N.S.W., died 1940 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133573653), John enlisted April 1916 (stated age 44, actual age 54!), at West Maitland, N.S.W.
John returned home on the 5th July 1917, being discharged medically unfit (chronic rheumatism and senility) on the 27th July 1917.
John only received British War Medal, no Victory Medal as he did not enter a theatre of war (an area of active fighting).
Mr. Blair’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates (photos, unveiled on the 12th March 1921, 322 names originally inscribed, 335 names now inscribed, 44 Fallen).
I will place poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label at John’s gravesite to honour this old Digger’s service for God, King and Country.
Many thanks to Winifred Macfarlane for the notification, photos and family history.
Lest We Forget.
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