George Albert John Blinco  [11106]

1894-1958

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:  1927 Sydney, New South Wales  

K comments: Brother served in WW!

Spouse comments: Margaret Nina Rowe 1893-1971

Children:

Birth Date: 1894

Newcastle, New South Wales, Registration number: 23788

Note: July 1918 Father William Blinco is living at 54 Cooper St. Surry Hills Sydney, July 1918 Mary Blinco is at 48 Little Riley St Surry Hills Sydney

1909

Working for a Fresh Food and Ice Cream company and is kicked by a Horse

Singleton Argus Tuesday 16 February 1909

“A saddled horse, owned by a butcher, “ran amok” in Darling Point road, Sydney, on Friday, and savagely attacked a boy, afterwards chasing a passing horse and buggy in a vicious way. George Blinco jun., who lives in Little Albion-street, Surry Hills, was the most seriously injured. He is employed by the Fresh Food and Ice Co.. and was out delivering orders. He pulled up in front of the residence of Mr Justice Coben, and when walking past the horse, which he alleges, was left untied on the side of the road, the animal lashed out. and kicked him on the right knee. The blow knocked him down, and as he lay on the ground the horse made several other kicks, which, fortunately, passed over him. Just at this time an elderly man “was driving past in a buggy, and the infuriated horse turned its attention to it. Galloping up to the side of tho horse drawing the buggy, the animal made several wild kicks at it. but the driver was able to beat the maddened horse off. Subsequently, the animal was captured without farther damage being done. The boy Blinco was taken to St. Vintent’s Hospital, where his injured leg will be put under the X-rays, on account of the stiffness and swelling that has followed the kick.”

25th Feb 1909

“Fifteen – year – old George Blinco, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Blinco. of Albert Street, was admitted on Wednesday night.”

 

WW1

Blinco George Albert, 1894, Newcastle, NSW, L/Cpl, 3307A, 5th Machine Gun Bn. 14^th Machine Gun Coy.

1915

• Enlisted 27^th Sept. (age 21 yrs) at Holdsworthy, NSW. A Driver by occupation, George states he had spent 3 months in Cadets. Mother Mary and Army correspondence are to and from Mrs Mary Blinco Surrey Hills NSW in 1918.
• 2^nd Dec.

  

  Embarked for Marseilles France via Alexandria Egypt on HMAT “Huntsend”, got into trouble on the journey for what was one of several army offences during his service period.

1916

• 8^th Jan. Crime at sea -fined two shillings and sixpence.
• Jan. Attended training at Zeitoun Training Camp in Egypt.

  

  Period unknown but most likely a long period learning machine-gun operation etc.

  

• 16^th Feb. Tel el Kefih. Joined 56^th Bn. Note: The 56^th Battalion was raised in Egypt on 14 February 1916 as part of the “doubling” of the AIF.
• 20^th Jun. Embarked on HMS Huntsend to France via Malta.
• 29^th Jun. Disembarked Marseilles, six months after leaving Australia.
• 3^rd Jul. In billets at Thiennes.
• 9^th Jul. Moved to billets at Estaire.
• 12^th Jul. Nr. Hulluch front line. Into trenches in Fleurbaix Sector Wye Farm relieving 48^th Bn. first action and a Gas Alert, Two men accidentally killed on the second day.
  • 14^th-22^nd Jul. Moved to relieve British troops at Bac St. Maur. Heavy exchanges.
• 19 July. Battle of Fromelles. Operation orders for the attack issued full particulars were given to at a conference at B.H.Q. The orders for the Machine Gun Company were that 10 guns would advance after the fourth wave of Infantry. 5th Australian Div. positions_ during the attack on Fromelles on the Aubers Ridge
• 26^th Jul. Admitted to hospital 1st Casualty Clearing Station Chocques. Suffering from a corneal ulcer. George missed the battle of Pozieres
• 30^th Jul. Admitted to 35^th General Hospital Calais.
• 20^th Oct. Taken on strength of 14^th MGC.
• 21 Oct. Into trenches at Flers.

1917

• 10^th Jan. AWOL.
• 21 Jan. Fricourt.

From war diary of 14th AMG Coy

• 1st April.  In anticipation of attack which was to take place on the 2nd Company H.Q’s was shifted to Delsaux Farm. One section of 8th M.G.C being attached. .
• 2^nd Apr. Wounded in action . Gun Shot Wound right leg. 02.4.17 The attack which  was successful was made on Doignies, Louverval villages.

  

  Casualties Lieut. Hallenstein wounded one man killed and four wounded.  Admitted to 5^th Divisional Rest Station (DRS) transferred to 13^th General Hospital Boulogne. Medical Records show George was transported to Boulogne on 31st Ambulance Train.

  

  

• From 14^th Machine Gun Company Unit War Diaries the days leading up to and including day George is wounded.
  • 28^th Mar. The 14^th Brigade relieved the 15^th Brigade. The Division and M.G.C moved up into position without any casualties.
  • 1^st Apr. In anticipation of attack which was to take place on the 2nd Company H.Q’s was shifted to Delsaux Farm. One section of 8th M.G.C being attached.
  • 2^ndApr. The attack which was successful was made on Doignies, Louverval villages.
• Casualties Lieut. Hallenstein wounded one man killed and four wounded.
• 4^thApr. Company H.Q. moved back to Fremicourt and section of 8th M.G.C relieved.

• 7^th Apr. Shipped to England and admitted to Kitchener War Hospital.

  

• 4^th Jun. Discharged to HQ.
• 19^th Jun. AWOL.
• 16^th Jul. Promoted to Lance Corporal (seems incongruent with being AWOL the month before!)
• 11^th Oct. Admitted to Tidworth Military Hosp. with Influenza.
• 30^th Nov. Proceeded overseas to France rejoined Coy. This was good timing because the 14^th MGC had just been involved in heavy action at Messines (Gapaard). However, in Dec the Coy. was relieved and spent Dec and Jan in relative peace spending a lot of time drilling and training.

1918

• 26^th Jan. Admitted 25^th General Hospital Hardelot Plage, France with Scabies
• During Feb and March, the Coy was very active in the Messines (White Chateau) area as the War Diaries reveal. As it turns out this was the last battle for George.
• 24^th Mar. The action came to end when the Coy was relieved by 2^nd Aust. M.G.C at 8.00 pm and moved to billets at Kemmel.
• 23rd Apr. admitted 56^th Casualty Clearing Station with mumps. Transferred to 25^th Stationary Hospital Rouen.
• 27^th Apr. Diary entry indicates George also gassed in action as well as the ailments listed on other sheets.
• 25^th May Embarked for England, with bronchial pneumonia, admitted War Hospital Bath, debility severe. This continues to be a problem and he is admitted again 8^th Nov. with pneumonia,
• 28^th Nov. dispatched to France but went AWOL again before embarking.

1919

• 2^nd Apr. Disembarked Weymouth and on 5^th May 1919 left England for Australia on “Orontes”
• 1^st Jul. Disembarked Sydney.
• Discharged 23rd Aug. 1919.

Sources

1. 14th Machine Gun Company Unit War Diaries
2. AIF records

Medals

Awarded 1914-1915 Star, British and Victory medals.

George also entitled to wear one wound stripe on his dress uniform lower left arm.

After the War

1930-1954 Electoral Role

George Albert 7 Adelaide St Woollahra NSW Pensioner

Nina Albert 7 Adelaide St Woollahra NSW Home duties

1954 20 Adelaide St Bondi junction both George and Nina

1948

The Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 7 December 1948

In the Estate Of Sarah Mary Blinco late of Woollahra in the State of New South Wales Widow de-ceased. Intestate Application will be made after 14 days from the publication hereof that Letters of Administration of the Estate of the above named deceased may be granted to George Albert Bllnco the Son of the sold deceased and all notices may be served at the undermentioned address Creditors are requested to forward particulars of their claims to Mr G A Blinco, 20 Adelaide Street Bondi Junction

Death 21 Feb 1958

(Army records)

GALLERY