Letters relating to William George Blaskett, 1916-1919

Letters relating to the First World War service of 3232 Second Lieutenant William George Blaskett, 48th Infantry Battalion, June 1916 - May 1919

This file is comprised of letters from Blaskett to his family, and correspondence relating to his death during the First Battle of Bullecourt in April 1917. In regard to the former, the author describes his experiences during the Battle of Pozieres in a series of letters that detail his wounding from a shrapnel shell, a subsequent period of convalescence in hospital and post-battle reflections on the casualties and carnage at Pozieres. After returning to his battalion, Blaskett outlines his activities and observations both behind the lines and on the front, and remarks on his appointment to instructional staff, recommendation for commission, attendance at schools of instruction, and a period of leave in England.

Correspondence relating to the death of William George Blaskett during the First Battle of Bullecourt includes letters of condolence from commanding officers and fellow soldiers to the family of the deceased. They refer to the circumstances surrounding his death, and reveal the high regard in which he was held by both superiors and subordinates in his battalion. Several letters from the Red Cross Society (Information Bureau) contain eyewitness statements by soldiers at the First Battle of Bullecourt relating to his death.

This file contains:

Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 18 June 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 26 June 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his father, France, 26 June 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, [France], 17 July 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 30 July 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 3 August 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, No. 4 General Hospital, Etaples, France, 10 August 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, No. 4 General Hospital, Etaples, France, 13 August 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to Madge [brother, Charles Edward Blaskett], No. 4 General Hospital, Etaples, France, 15 August 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, No. 4 General Hospital, Etaples, France, 25 August 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, No. 4 General Hospital, Etaples, France, 10 September 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 10 October 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 16 October 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 8 December 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 19 December 1916;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, Shrewsbury, England, 11 January 1917;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 19 January 1917;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 30 January 1917;
Letter from William George Blaskett to Madge [brother, Charles Edward Blaskett], France, 4 February 1917;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 16 March 1917;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his father, France, 18 March 1917;
Letter from William George Blaskett to his mother, France, 3 April 1917;
Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Raymond L. [Lionel] Leane to Mrs. [Elenor] Blaskett, France, 15 April 1917;
Letter from Brigadier General J.C. [James Campbell] Robertson to Mrs. [Elenor] Blaskett, France, 16 April 1917;
Letter from Harold H. Ward to Mr. and Mrs. Blaskett and Charlie [Charles Arthur Blaskett], France, 18 April 1917;
Copy of letter from Leslie William Sando to his mother relating to the death of William George Blaskett, [France, c. April - May 1917];
Letter from Leo [Leslie William Sando] to his mother relating to the death of William George Blaskett, Codford, England, 1 August 1917;
Letter from Charles A. [Augustus] Edmunds to Mrs. [Elenor] Blaskett, Adelaide, 16 April 1919; and
Letter from Charles A. [Augustus] Edmunds to Mrs. [Elenor] Blaskett, Adelaide, 20 May 1919.