Collection relating to Richard Watson Bickford

Informal group portrait of five soldiers leaning against a damaged building at Villers Bretonneux. Possibly identified in the middle is 1070 Private (Pte) Frederick William Blencowe, 21st Battalion, of Birchip, Victoria. A draper prior to enlistment in May 1915, Pte Blencowe was awarded the Military Medal on 11 January 1918 for bravery in the field during the battle of Broodseinde Ridge, in the Ypres Sector, during fighting on 4 October 1917. His citation reads in part "He personally led an attack on a Machine Gun which was holding up our advance to the final objective. By the capture of the gun many casualties were saved. He was most conspicuous for coolness, courage and ready grasp of the situation. During the final assault and consolidation the work of this N.C.O was superb; his services were invaluable". Frederick Blencowe was promoted several times during the war and returned to Australia with the rank of Lieutenant in 1919. His forty four year old father, 1664a Pte William Henry (Harry) Blencowe, also of the 21st Battalion, was en route to Gallipoli when his troopship, HMT Southland, was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea near Agistrati Island. He survived and was invalided to Australia in January 1916 and discharged. Pte Harry Blencowe died of complications on 6 December 1918 before his son returned to Australia. For an image of Pte Harry Blencowe see DA09476.