John Walter Henry “Jack” Blinco [11105]
1889-1931
Father Nm: William John Blinco, [11100] born 21 Dec 1860, West Maitland NSW died 20 May 1929, Lidcomb :
Mother Nm: Sarah Mary Playford, b. 1864, Patricks Plain, NSW died 17 Aug 1940 was known as Mary
Marriage Dt: 12 July 1912 Sydney NSW
K comments: Brother George Albert John served in WW1
Spouse comments: Catherine (Kate) Lace 1894-1981
Children:Ronald Walter Blinco, Elaine Catherine Blinco
Born 2 May 1889 Murrurundi,Newcastle, New South Wales
1902
Father abandoned mother when young and was involved in criminal behaviour by age 11 .
New South Wales, Australia, Police Gazettes, John Blinco, abt 1890, Age 12, 23rd April 1902, Page #: 171. Event Type: Theft.
However in his teenage years Jack found something that allowed him to express himself Rugby League Football.
1914-1915
Rugby league player for Balmain Tigers in 1915 the Tigers went undefeated in the sean Jack is likely in this team photo
1915 Occupation Boiler Makers Assistant
WW1
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Blinco John, 1889, Murrundi, Private, 7693, R3012A, 56th, 13th Battalions AIF.
Synopsis
It wasn’t until I was looking at Jack’s grandfathers emigration to Australia in 1854 that I found a lot more about Jack and his troubled background and his sporting prowess. Jacks father and his brothers all had run ins with the law (numerous news articles attest) , whether this was the indiscipline in the family of his Grandfather and Grandmother we probably will never know. His Grandparents immigration story is here. Jack and the Army didnt work out well and that isn’t a surprise given the disciplined environment. He was discharged and after the war played football again but only for a short. He gave his Aunt his medals and he died in 1931 age 43 yrs. I suspect drinking was also part of his very undisciplined lifestyle
1915
- 27th Sept. Enlisted.
- 20th Dec. Embarked Sydney for France on HMAT Suevic.
1916
- 21st Jan. Disembarked Egypt.
- 16th Feb 1916 taken on strength of 56th Bn.
- 27th May. Posted as a Deserter from Army 27th May 1916.1917
- 4th Aug. Apprehended and taken on strength Liverpool.
- 19th Jul. Court Martial sentenced to 9 months hard labour suspended.
- 12th Nov. Posted as a Deserter again apprehended.
1918
- 27th Feb. Police Gazette Desertion. Publication date 27th Page 102 of previous 1917 offence.
- 20th Mar. Taken on strength Liverpool.
- 27th Mar. Embarked for active service from Sydney, with 26th Reinforcements 13th Bn. on A54 HMAT Runic
- April-May. The 13th Battalion was active in the German Spring defences.
- Aug 8th The Bn. took part in the fighting near Amiens.
- Sometime in the period until the Armistice, John may have been a POW. The Red Cross Records, unfortunately, the ICRC records only tell us that he was repatriated and not when /where he was captured and what POW camp he was sent to. It seems a great mystery how John could have been a Pow as he as service entries that do not align with a period in POW camp.
- 24th Nov. Repatriated to England from Calais.? Given the rest of John’s record, it would be prudent to say that we cant verify a POW status at any time.
1919
- Court Martial for desertion again in 1919 this time John jumps out of a moving military escort vehicle in France.
- Ultimately caught, sentenced and discharged.
Note: 150 plus pages of John’s file exist at http://www.naa.gov.au/
Medals
Amazingly during all this indiscipline John found time to win 1914-15 Star, British and Victory but looks like these were taken away as a result of the 1919 desertion.
After the War
Oct 1921
Imprisoned failure to support children
Post War – Football Player for South Sidney
Known in rugby league history as Jack “Horsey” Blinco. He was a significant figure for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the early 1920s.
According to the official South Sydney records, he is listed as John Walter Henry Blinco, though he played under the name “Jack.”
Jack Blinco is immortalized as South Sydney Player #114. He was a powerful forward who joined the club during one of its most formative eras.
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South Sydney Debut: He made his first-grade debut for Souths on May 1, 1920, in a match against Western Suburbs at the Agricultural Ground (now part of the Sydney Showground at Moore Park).
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Position: He primarily played as a Prop or Forward.
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Club History: Before joining Souths, he played for Balmain (1914–1915). His career was interrupted by his military service during World War I, but he returned to the top flight of Sydney rugby league with South Sydney in 1920.
Side note: In 1922 his Aunt Catherine ‘Kitty’ Blinco was robbed of medals Jack had given to her see the news report
Death 1931
First name(s) John
Last name Blinco
Birth year –
Death year 1931
Registration year 1931
Age at death –
Registration district Randwick
State New South Wales
Country Australia
Father’s first name(s) William J
Mother’s first name(s) Sarah
Registration number 7359
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Civil Deaths & Burials
Collections from Australasia, Australia
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