Blair Wark
Blair Anderson Wark | |
---|---|
Puckapunyal, Victoria | |
Allegiance | Australia |
Service/ | Citizens Military Force (1913–15, 1940–41) Australian Imperial Force (1915–19) |
Years of service | 1912–19 1940–41 |
Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
Commands held | 32nd Battalion 1st Battalion |
Battles/wars | First World War
Mentioned in Despatches |
Blair Anderson Wark,
Returning to Australia after the war, Wark resumed work as a quantity surveyor and established his own business. He became a respected member of Australian society, holding positions and directorships in several companies and charities until 1940, when he re-enlisted in the Citizens Military Force for service in the
Early life
Wark was born in Bathurst, New South Wales, on 27 July 1894, the fourth child of Alexander Wark, a gas engineer from Scotland, and his native-born wife Blanche Adelaide Maria (née Forde). He was educated at Fairleigh Grammar School, Bathurst, and St. Leonard's Superior Public School before attending Sydney Technical College,[1] where he studied quantity surveying.[2]
For twelve months prior to July 1912, Wark was a senior cadet in the Australian Army Cadets, rising to the rank of sergeant within his unit. Concurrently he worked as a quantity surveyor before enlisting in the 18th North Sydney Infantry, Citizen Military Force. Promoted to corporal in early 1913, he received a commission as a second lieutenant on 16 August,[2] and for the next year was assigned to full-time defence duties in the port of Sydney.[3]
First World War
Enlistment, August 1915, to Western Front, September 1918
On 5 August 1915, Wark enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force,[2] and was posted as a lieutenant to C Company of the newly raised 30th Battalion.[4] He proceeded to the Sydney suburb of Liverpool, where he attended an infantry school before training at the Royal Military College, Duntroon.[3] On 9 November, the 30th Battalion embarked for Egypt aboard the troopship HMAT A72 Beltana.[4] Upon arrival in December,[5] the battalion was tasked with the defence of the Suez Canal where, on 20 February 1916, Wark was promoted to captain.[2]
In June 1916, the battalion departed from
On 9 October 1916, Wark was attached to the 32nd Battalion, a position that became permanent on 18 November.[5] The 32nd Battalion saw no major offensive action for the remainder of the year,[7] and on 2 January 1917, Wark gained admission to the Army Infantry School. By February he was back with the 32nd Battalion, and took part in actions at Sunray Trench during March. For these, and further actions at Fromelles, Wark was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order,[8] but the award was never made.[1] He was promoted to major on 27 April, and in June was granted six days of leave to Paris.[5]
In late September and early October, Wark commanded a company in the Ypres sector of Belgium during the Battle of Polygon Wood.[3] On 29 September—the first day of the battle—Wark's men successfully repelled the leading waves of a German counter-attack and, with artillery support, drove off the remainder. Over the following three days, his constant patrolling and personal reconnaissance of the German positions enabled him to ascertain when they were massing for further counter-attacks; on one occasion he dispersed the assembling German troops with rifle fire and grenades.[9] For his actions during the battle, Wark was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, the details of which were published in a supplement to The London Gazette on 3 June 1918.[10]
Granted sixteen days leave to the United Kingdom from 3 November, Wark was selected for a senior officers' course at
Victoria Cross, September 1918, to repatriation, September 1919
From 29 September to 1 October 1918, Wark assumed temporary command of the 32nd Battalion, leading the unit in the 5th Division's attack against the Hindenburg Line at Bellicourt (part of the Battle of St Quentin Canal), and the subsequent advance through Nauroy, Etricourt, Magny La Fosse and Joncourt. This series of battles became the 32nd Battalion's final actions for the war,[7] and it was during this period that Wark earned his Victoria Cross.[12]
The 32nd Battalion was to commence its attack at Bellicourt at 09:00 on 29 September, and move south through the village.
Shortly afterwards, Wark observed a battery of German 77 mm guns firing on his rear companies, causing heavy casualties. Collecting a party of his men, he rushed the battery and succeeded in capturing four guns in conjunction with ten crewmen. With only two men, he pushed forward and surprised fifty Germans near Magny-la-Fosse who subsequently surrendered.[13] At 15:00, he halted his battalion near Joncourt, and sent out patrols which found the town still occupied by enemy forces.[2] The 32nd Battalion responded by withdrawing slightly and strengthening its line. At 17:30, the Germans launched a counter-attack that was repulsed with the assistance of the 31st Battalion, together with some men from the 46th (North Midland) Division.[12]
At 07:00 the next day, the 32nd Battalion attacked once more, advancing 1,500 metres (1,600 yd) to a point just north of Etricourt.[2] Under heavy shelling and machine gun fire, they established a line between Joncourt and Etricourt.[12] On 1 October, at 06:00, with a company attached from the 30th Battalion, the 32nd Battalion launched an attack that cut through Joncourt. Leading from the front, Wark dashed forward and silenced machine guns that were causing heavy casualties; this enabled the 5th Division to complete its task of forcing through to the Beaurevoir Line.[2]
The full citation for Wark's Victoria Cross appeared in a supplement to the London Gazette on 26 December 1918, reading:[14]
War Office, 26th December, 1918
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men: —
Maj. Blair Anderson Wark, D.S.O., 32nd Bn., A.I.F.
For most conspicuous bravery, initiative and control during the period 29th Sept. to 1st Oct. 1918, in the operations against the Hindenburg Line at Bellicourt and the advance through Nauroy, Etricourt, Magny La Fosse and Joncourt.
On 29th Sept., after personal reconnaissance under heavy fire, he led his command forward at a critical period and restored the situation. Moving fearlessly at the head of, and at times far in advance of, his troops, he cheered his men on through Nauroy, thence towards Etricourt. Still leading his assaulting companies, he observed a battery of 77mm. guns firing on his rear companies and causing heavy casualties. Collecting a few of his men, he rushed the battery, capturing four guns and ten of the crew. Then moving rapidly forward with only two N.C.O.s, he surprised and captured fifty Germans near Magny La Fosse.
On 1st Oct., 1918, he again showed fearless leading and gallantry in attack, and without hesitation and regardless of personal risk dashed forward and silenced machine guns which were causing heavy casualties.
Throughout he displayed the greatest courage, skilful leading and devotion to duty, and his work was invaluable.
The 32nd Battalion was resting and retraining away from the frontline when the
Later life
On demobilisation Wark resumed business as a quantity surveyor in Sydney,
In 1922, Wark and Phyllis divorced; five years later, on 10 December 1927, he married Catherine Mary Davis at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Sydney.[1] The couple had one son and two daughters.[16] On 17 April 1940,[17] Wark returned to active duty in the Second World War, and was appointed to the 1st Battalion (City of Sydney's Own Regiment) as a major. On 26 July, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel and assumed command of the battalion. While bivouacked at Puckapunyal Camp, Victoria, he died suddenly of coronary heart disease on 13 June 1941.[16] The medical officer attending later concluded: "The cause of death in my opinion was angina pectoris, the fatal attack having been brought on by physical exertion during a night exercise under very cold conditions."[5] Wark was cremated on 16 June at Eastern Suburbs Crematorium, Sydney, after a full military funeral.[15] His Victoria Cross is part of the collections of the Queensland Museum, South Bank,[18] but was loaned to the Australian War Memorial from February 2017 for temporary display in the latter's Hall of Valour during the centenary period of the First World War.[19]
Notes
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Staunton 2005, p. 187.
- ^ a b c d Gliddon 2000, p. 60.
- ^ a b "Blair Anderson Wark" (PDF). First World War Embarkation Roll. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Blair Anderson WARK". AIF Project. Australian Defence Force Academy. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ "30th Battalion". Australian military units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ a b c d e "32nd Battalion". Australian military units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ "Recommendation for Blair Anderson Wark to be awarded a Distinguished Service Order (1916)" (PDF). Recommendations: First World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ "Recommendation for Blair Anderson Wark to be awarded a Distinguished Service Order (1918)" (PDF). Recommendations: First World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ "No. 30716". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 June 1918. p. 6461.
- ^ "No. 30706". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 May 1918. p. 6202.
- ^ a b c d Gliddon 2000, p. 58.
- ^ Arthur 2005, p. 347.
- ^ "No. 31082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1918. pp. 15117–15118.
- ^ a b Gliddon 2000, p. 61.
- ^ a b Staunton 2005, p. 188.
- ^ "Wark, Blair Anderson". World War II Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
- ^ "Victoria Cross". Queensland Museum South Bank. Government of Queensland. Archived from the original on 15 September 2008. Retrieved 8 October 2008.
- ^ "Three more WW1 Victoria Crosses displayed at the Australian War Memorial". Centenary News. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
References
- ISBN 978-0-330-49133-4.
- Gliddon, Gerald (2000). The Final Days 1918. ISBN 978-0-7509-2485-6.
- Staunton, Anthony (2005). Victoria Cross: Australia's Finest and the Battles they Fought. Prahran, Victoria: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 978-1-74066-288-8.
External links
- "Captain (LtCol) Blair Anderson Wark VC DSO". VC Recipients. Diggerhistory.info. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- "Major Blair Anderson Wark VC, DSO". Queensland Museum, South Bank. Government of Queensland. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.