Especially for Meg Blomfield an extract transcribed from The Muswellbrook Chronicle newspaper dated Friday 16 February 1940:- LATE LIEUTENANT DICK BLOMFIELD, M.C. A Soldier and a Gentleman. As briefly chronicled in our last issue the death occurred at his home in Sydney on Tuesday of last week of Lieut. Dick Blomfield, M.C., following a long illness. Merriwa feels a personal loss in the death of Mr. Blomfield, who, until over a year ago, when he left for Sydney for health reasons, was a widely-known and respected citizen of Merriwa. He was a valued member of the Merriwa sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers League, and his demise is mourned by the Diggers and citizens alike. At all times a gentleman, his main thought in life was the welfare of his fellow-man, and this trait in his character was strikingly demonstrated during his service in the Great War as a lieutenant in the 33rd Battalion. In a tribute to the late Mr. Blomfield the Northern Daily Leader says:— The late Mr. Blomfield was the author of a series of articles on the history of his battalion, which The Northern Daily Leader published last year, under the title, Black and Green. It was his intention, at the time of his death, to publish the history, with additions since it was first written, in book form, and he had done much towards this end. The late Mr. Blomfield was the eighth son of the late Mr. and Mrs. EJ. C. Blomfield, of Boorolong and Salisbury. Born at Boorolong in 1880, he was educated at The Armidale School, being one of the first pupils. On leaving school he went to Bega, on the South Coast, where he was articled to his brother, a solicitor. He practised law at Walcha and Mullumbimby, but he loved the land, and left the legal profession to settle on a property in the Walcha district. He married Miss Betty Wren, daughter of Mr. W. W. Wren, of Karderuka, Bega, who, with six children, survives him. They are Miss Cecile Blomfield, and Geoff, Colin, Innes, Owen and Blair Blomfield. SERVICE IN 33rd BATTALION. He enlisted in 1915, and joined the original 33rd Battalion, going into camp at Armidale showground. He gained his commission soon after the battalion landed in France, and earned a reputation for his sound leader ship, bravery, unselfishness, and care of his men. No officer of the battalion was better respected or loved than Dick Blomfield, and the award of the Military Cross to him for his work at Passchendaele, probably the fiercest battle the battalion fought, was regarded as something less than he had earned. It was in that action that he was severely wounded, losing an eye, and some time later he was invalided to Australia. He had previously been wounded at Messines. The announcement of the award of the Military Cross was made In the following terms:— The Commander-in-Chief has under authority granted by his Majesty the King, awarded the Military Cross to Lieutenant Richard Henry Blomficld, 33rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On October 11 and 12, south-west of Passchendaele, Second Lieutenant R. H. Blomfield displayed great coolness, determination and leadership in getting his men to the assembly point. On October 13, 14, 15 and 16, he organised and led search parties for the wounded in front of our lines. Regardless of all personal danger, he searched the whole area and rescued many wounded. He, himself, carried several officers and men back through both heavy machine-gun and shell fire. On the night of the 17th, while bringing a wounded man in, he was severely wounded. This officer did excellent work in consolidation, and himself worked indefatigably. He showed splendid leadership and great ability throughout the operation. By his very gallant conduct, his determination, his contempt of danger, his cheerfulness and his tireless energy, he set a magnificent example to the whole battalion. RETURN TO AUSTRALIA. On his return ho settled at Merriwa. A year ago his health broke down, and he went to Epping, near Sydney, to live, conducting a small business, but he was a sick man. It was there that a member of The Northern Daily Leader staff met him by chance when he had just completed his story of the Black and Green Battalion. The publication of that history was the means of his renewing many battalion friendships, and he received letters from old comrades which enabled him to amplify some of the chapters. When the articles were discussed by members of the battalion, it was in variable that splendid tributes were paid to their author as a great man and a great soldier. The remains were cremated at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium, when those attending included many officers, N. C. Os and men of the 33rd, some of whom travelled from the north and north-west for the occasion. Mr. O. R. Cormack, Mr. Blomfields former captain, represented the battalion association. The service was conducted by Canon Riley, formerly of Armidale, and an intimate friend of over 20 years. A TRIBUTE BY F.R. All old Diggers of the 33rd Battalion and a host of friends in many places will have learnt with deep regret of the passing of Lieut. R. H. Blomfield, M.C. Mr. Blomfield was one of those rare characters who awaken respect at the first meeting and retain it through all circumstances to the end. War is the greatest and the ultimate test of every faculty in man, and he emerged from it not only richer in experience, but even greater in character. His Colonel, Lieut.-Colonel Morshead, wrote of him:— To an unusual degree he had the esteem, respect and confidence of his men, and altogether he was one of the best officers it was my privilege to serve with. This was also the testimony of the men of the ranks. One of them tells us— In spite of fatigue, swollen feet and the shelling, he was always cheerful, never thinking of himself, but helping others right up to the time when he was wounded. Several men are still living who owe their lives to his splendid gallantry. On October 12, 1917, on the dreadful field of Passehendaele, he braved the shells and mud to bring in the wounded, and never rested till the job was done. The bestowal of the Military Cross was the acknowledgment of his fine work. DIGGERS WERE HIS FRIENDS. The interest in his platoon for which he was noted, continued to the end. Every Digger was his friend, and his sympathy was never withheld from any Digger in need. For some months before his last illness he was absorbed in putting together notes and recollections of his old battalion which found ready hospitality in the columns of The Northern Daily Leader. These were read with lively interest by hundreds of his old friends, and the present writer was witness of the great delight he felt in perusing the letters which many of them sent to him giving further details of the struggles in which they had all taken part. It was his ambition to put these articles and the added information in permanent form for the benefit of the members of the old 33rd, and it is much to be desired that means shall be taken to that end. COMMUNITY SERVICE. Dick Blomfield was a good soldier because it was his natural character. In all circumstances, he was the same man, at home, in the bush or on the battlefield. He was a practising Christian if ever there was one. In all community service he was the first to step forward, and the properties he held at various times at Walcha, Quirindi and Merriwa soon showed an improvement which spoke of a master pioneer. The many trees he planted and lovingly watched over will remain his best monument, ever so would he prefer it. All who knew him feel in his death a personal loss, for there has passed from us a great and gallant Australian gentleman, whose place will be hard to fill. We are the better for having known him, and the young soldiers of the new A.I.F. may well look to him and to such as he, for there were many like him in the old A.I.F., as a shining example of what an Australian soldier should be, at all times and in all circumstances.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 06:49:21 +0000
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