Private: 2038 John Thomson BLAIR

34th BATTALION AIF

Private: 2038 John Thomson BLAIR

Born: 17th April 1862. Pitt Town, Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia. Birth Cert:10976/1862.

Married: 1885. Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia. Marriage Cert:6859/1885.

Wife: Margaret Blair. nee: Buxton. (1866-19/06/1940)

Died: 1st September 1928. Merewether via Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. Death Cert:14407/1928.

Father: Peter Blair. (1830-1905)

Mother: Janet Blair. nee: Paterson. (1832-1895)

INFORMATION

Served during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery.

93 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 3rd September 1928, Private John Thomson Blair, 34th Battalion (Reg No-2038), miner from "Blairathol", 27 Macquarie Street, Merewether, New South Wales, father of seven (Olga, Sadie, Audrey, Reg, Robert, Harold, Jack), was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 66. METHODIST 3 (UNITING) C. 30.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135397977 - funeral notice does not state service.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163980781 - Death Notice.

Born at Pitt Town, Wallsend on the 17th April 1862 to Peter and Janet Blair; husband of Margaret Blair nee Buxton (married 1885, Wallsend, N.S.W., died 1940 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133573653), John enlisted April 1916 (stated age 44, actual age 54!), at West Maitland, N.S.W.

John returned home on the 5th July 1917, being discharged medically unfit (chronic rheumatism and senility) on the 27th July 1917.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134866638 - reported returning home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134869933 - welcome home being organised.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134854862 - welcome home.

John only received British War Medal, no Victory Medal as he did not enter a theatre of war (an area of active fighting).

Mr. Blair’s name has been inscribed on the Merewether (Mitchell Park) Memorial Gates (photos, unveiled on the 12th March 1921, 322 names originally inscribed, 335 names now inscribed, 44 Fallen).

Merewether War Memorial

I will place poppies and a 1914-1918 WAR label at John’s gravesite to honour this old Digger’s service for God, King and Country.

http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/.../index.php...

Many thanks to Winifred Macfarlane for the notification, photos and family history.

Lest We Forget.

Gary Mitchell: Sept 2021.

Family Information

John was a married 44 year old Miner from at "Blairathol" 27 Macquarie Street, Merewether, N.S.W. His funeral held 3rd September 1928 Sandgate Cemetery. Uniting Methodist Sec C Lot 30. Margaret was also buried at Sandgate Cemetery.