Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The eldest son of a successful oysterman in Raymond Terrace, Reg Blanch, (my gg-grandmother, Mary Ann “Clara” Baker’s little brother), George enlisted to serve in WWI to fight alongside his twin brother Peter on the 9th May 1916 aged 25. They were the eldest of their brood and cousin to John James Baker who fought alongside them but survived.

From George's War Diary* we learn about Peter's experience and wounding...

"...on Sunday 8/7/17 arriving in rear trenches on the 10th and joined Peter just behind Messines Ridge. Had a few Hours work the first night and then three easy days which brings us to Friday 13 on which night we were carrying to the reserve line and got honoured with a very hot little bombardment from our friend the enemy but it was short and sweet and did no damage to our party, although some shells came quite close enough.
Carrying on again on the 14th and again came under heavy fire and shell gas. H Sergeant was hit on the arm with a big lump of shell but not hurt much.
It rained hard on the way out. Wet through everything except tin hat. Roads very slippery and on Sunday night carrying ammunition to 34 HDQTRS CT. Very muddy but otherwise things were fairly quiet but on the morning of the 16, fritz made things very hot at our dugouts with about 100 shells in the very near vicinity which hunted everybody, except Peter and myself, to the deep dug out and killed our Officer Mr Chapman and one of the men Shumack by name.
We carried again at night and our artillery poured it into him hot and heavy. 34 Batt hopped over and took one of his strong points on the 17. We were all night moving up to the reserve line at night. Were not there long before Peter was wounded and it took the SB six hours to get him to the DS 19 in line...."
Peter never recovered from his injuries of July 18, 1917, and died the next day. George's diary ends on July 25th and he was killed five days later.
The brothers were among the casualties of the third Battle of Ypres. George is buried at Ypres and Peter at Trois-Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerk.
The brothers left behind their grieving parents, Reg and Annie as well as George's wife and cousin Violet, and five brothers and sisters.

* Following George's death his diary was returned to Australia. Following Violet's death in 1982 it was found amongst her papers.

George Arthur BLANCH was born on 19th January, 1891 at Salt Ash, NSW

His parents were James Ridgy BLANCH and Ann EVENS who married in 1889

He married Violet Jessie BLANCH in 1916

His twin brother Peter James BLANCH (SN2277) died of wounds 11 days before Georges death

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IN MEMORY

BLANCH - In sad but loving memory of our dear twin sons & brothers, Private Peter James Blanch died of wounds while serving in France on the 19th July, 1917 , also Private George Arthur Blanch, killed in action in France on the 30th July, 1917

"The blow was hard, the shock severe

To part with two lads we loved so dear

We loved them then, we  love them still

Forget them?, no we never will"

"Too dearly loved to be forgotten"

Inserted by his loving parents & sisters

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"Our brothers are sleeping their last long sleep and their graves we may never see

But some gentle hand in that distant land may scatter some flowers for me"

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"They marched away so bravely, their young heads proudly held

Their footsteps never faltered and their courage never failed

Their king and country called them, the call was not in vain

On Britains roll of honor, you will find our heroes names"

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"In soldiers graves they are sleeping, the dearest and the best

In our hearts we will miss them forever, though we know they are only at rest"

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"They sleep not in their native land, but 'neath the foreign skies

Far from those that loved them best, in heroes graves they lie"

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"He sleeps beside his comrades, in a hallowed grave unknown

But his name is written in letters of love, in the hearts he left at home"