Private George Blavins

George Alfred Blavins was born on 28th July, 1892 in Woolwich, London. He was the third child born to Ada and John Blavins when John was serving as a gunner in the Royal Artillery. George Blavins travelled to Sydney in 1912 embarking on the ‘Orvieto’ at the Port of London. He settled at Coutts Crossing, NSW where he was employed as a labourer and played in the local cricket competition in the Grafton area.
On the 20 August, 1915 George Blavins enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Brisbane, Queensland, he was 23 years of age. Local residents held a farewell party for the recruits at the Coutts Crossing Coronation Hall, presenting a wristlet watch to each of the men at the end of the event. Before leaving for camp George was also entertained at Sackett & Howard's rooms, South Grafton, along with other local recruits and with the Mayor, Alderman R. Dobie Bawden presiding.
George embarked at Brisbane on HMAT A26 ‘Armadale’ as part of the 25th Battalion, 4th Reinforcements on 18 September, 1915. He arrived in France on 4 February, 1916. On the 19th April, 1916 he was transferred to the 7th Light Trench Mortar Battery with which he served throughout the war apart from a time with the 2nd Division Light Trench Mortar Battery.
On 4th November, 1919 he was discharged in England, where on 14 May, 1919 he married Lucy Cotten in the Holy Trinity Church in Woolwich and had three children. George Blavins never returned to Australia and died on the 15 March, 1972 in England.