Bright Albert Victor 1888-1972 – Blencowe Family in World War One

Albert Victor Bright

1888-1972

Father Nm: Samuel Bright

Mother Nm: Mary Ann Blencowe [7195] born 24.1.1856 Amherst Victoria parents John Blencowe Emma Scown died 1941 Camfield Victoria: Oldest known Ancestor -John Blencowe 1830, Brackley.

Marriage:

1912 to Beatrice Kirkmichael McAuslan in Victoria.
1942 to Alma Louie Williamson in Victoria

K comments: Brother Percy served with the 24th Infantry Bn. Brother Hurtle preceded Albert into the 58th Bn.but was transferred to the 57th Bn.before Albert joined the 58th.

Spouse comments: Beatrice Kirkmichael McAuslan born 18 MAY 1893 • Williamstown, Victoria, Australia died 2 NOV 1967 • Brunswick, Victoria, Australia

Children: Edna May Bright 1915-1991

Birth

5 JAN 1888 • Carlton North, Victoria,


Australian Imperial Force	58th Battalion Patch

WW1

Albert Victor Bright ,1897, Brighton Vic. Private, 3365, 58th Bn. AIF

1917

22 May. Enlisted in Melbourne, Occupation Carpenter,Address North Williamstown, Victoria, Marital status Married Next of kin Wife, Mrs Beatrice Bright, 8 Union Street, North Williamstown, Victoria.
16 Jul. Embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A16 Port Melbourne on 16 July 1917.

1918

18 Jan. Taken on strength of the 58th Bn.
1 Apr. The German Spring Offensive. In March the 5th Division moved to defend the sector around Corbie. On the 4th April, German movements between Hamel and Bouzencourt are recorded as the 58th Bn. sits on the Corbie line. Severe bombardment by the enemy, news that the British Cavalry and 11th AIF Brigade attacked.
Hastily dug gun pit tells of these British artillerymen to quickly respond to advancing German Army. Near Corbie 1st April 1918 Imperial War Museum
25 Apr. The 58th Bn. held a line at Aubigny as the 57th and 60th Bn.counter-attacked at Villers-Bretonneux.
27/28 Apr. The 58th Bn. takes over the front line in front Villers-Brettoneux. Casualties (for the month) were most incurred during the line from 27th onwards and were 67 men overall with 14 KIA.
The movements of the 58th in April 1918
3/4 Jul. The 58th “D” Coy took part in an attack at Buire sur Ancre. The operation recorded as quite successful, Casualties recorded as 10 killed and 31 wounded the German casualties estimated to be 50 killed and 25-30 Germans taken prisoner.

In the last 100 days of the war, the allied armies were very much used as a combined force attacking and driving the Germans back in waves using aircraft and tanks and infantry in a coordinated way.

8/9 Aug. Harbonnieres. In conjunction with the 24th Bde. Canadian Infantry the 15th Bde AIF successfully attacked Harbonnieres. Below the map showing the area attacked.
8th Aug. 1918 Attack line simplified see War Diary map in Gallery
The 58th Bn. casualties for this attack on the 8/9th Aug. were 17 killed as per CWGC records.
2 Sept.Capture of Peronne.
- The 58th Battalion entered the town of Peronne and secured this area for the cost of 10 men KIA.
29-30 Sept. Attack on the Hindenburg Line. In a combined attack to reach the Hindenburg line, the 58th was confused at first by fog but later successful in reaching the line. Casualties over the two-periods were heavy with 24 men being killed as per CWGC records on the 29-30th September.
The ‘AIF in France’ relates this attack in the fog ” The 58th, after meeting fire near Malakoff Farm, had worked through trenches in dense fog and shell-fire to Mount Olympus~ Americans escorting back small parties of prisoners
knew nothing of the situation, but the 57th and 58th (the latter now on the left) recognised that something must have miscarried.These men could say only that something was wrong ahead. Looking thither the Australians saw a few more Americans in the ditch of a light railway, 300 yards out. Just then bullets swept viciously from the north along the rear side of the mound. Nothing had been heard of the 59th Battalion, which should have been there, but at 11.20 the 58th came up, itself finding men of the 4th on its left.”
1-3 Oct. Continuing the push on the enemy the Battalion advanced from Bellicourt.
- 1
  58th’s position at the beginning of the attack. Map from AIF in France
  
  Oct. “The night again was dark and raining…..The 58th (15th Bde.) had
  just time to cancel a projected raid on Cabaret Wood Farm.”
  
  Movement of the 58th on the 1st Oct. 1918. Map AIF in France
- As a result of this attacking movement, the battalion sustained 4 men KIA.
This appears to be the last combat for the battalion, relieved on the 2nd October it went to billets at Templeux behind the lines and on the 5th October to Peronne and by the 8th via train to Abbeville.
8 Nov. Albert is granted leave to the Uk just three days before the war ends.. His brother Hurtle was given leave at the same time.
22 Nov. Rejoined Bn. at Behen south-west of Abbeville.

The battalion which had withdrawn to rest on 2 October 1918 and was still doing so when the war ended.

1919

Jan. At Dourlers near Valenciennes.
15 Mar. The battalion moved to Bussou-lez-Walcourt to ready for transportation home. Brother Hurtle arrived at the same place with the 57th Bn on the 28th Mar.
24 Mar. Weakened by the progressive return of troops to Australia, the 58th battalion ceased to exist as such when it merged with the 59th Battalion on 24 March 1919.
30-31May. Embarked for and landed in Southampton, England and was stationed at Sutton Very near Warminster.
24 Jul. Returned to Australia 24 July 1919, Embarked at Devonport on the ‘Bakara’.
24 Sept. Disembarked ‘Bakara’ Melbourne.
HMAT Bakara