Thistle
WA

Harry Edward Blunt

Enlistment Date
12/01/1915
Age At Enlistment
34
Rank On Enlistment
Private
Rank Attained At War’s End
Lance Corporal
Regimental No.
1596
Battalion
16th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
Fate
Returned
Fate Date
13/05/1918
Occupation
Painter
Place of Birth
Tunbridge Wells, England
Religion
Church Of England
Marital Status
Single
Embarkation Details
Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A50 Itonus on 22 February 1915

Harry Blunt was born in Tunbridge Wells, England, and in his early 30s moved to Perth where he worked as a painter. He kept goal for Subiaco for four seasons and was preparing for his first campaign with Division One champions Thistle when he enlisted in the 16th Battalion, serving as a Private.

In August 1915, Harry Blunt suffered a gunshot wound to the right foot, possibly in the August Offensive at Gallipoli. He became one of the first soldiers admitted to the newly opened 3rd Australian General Hospital in Lemnos, Greece, where he stayed just over three weeks. While awaiting redeployment in Egypt early the following year, Harry Blunt was hospitalised for over a month due to bronchitis.

On his return he served in France and in January 1917 was appointed to Lance Corporal. Seven months later he was admitted to hospital for a third time, this time with Trench Fever, at Abbeville. Harry Blunt spent the remainder of the war in England, having been deemed not expected to be fit for duty within six months.

Repatriated to Perth in May 1918, he lived in Balcatta and Leederville. Harry Blunt passed away in Perth on 29 December, 1953, at the age of 74.