Ahead of Remembrance Day, Codicote Local History Society's Andrew Rylah looks at the Blain Brothers.
Conflict often feels to be all around us, and yet its ever-present nature can numb us to its horrors.
The numbers who fell in wars past (and present) are huge, but behind each were partners, brothers and sisters, children and parents. For everyone the anguish and grief was personal and present.
As we approach Remembrance Day, I’d like to tell the tale of two Codicote brothers, Bert and Frank Blain, whose futures were changed forever by the First World War.
Bert and Frank grew up in their father’s butchers’ shop on Codicote High Street at the end of the 19th century. Theirs was a typical upbringing for the times – Frank worked on his uncle’s farm; Bert became a carpenter.
Both were ambitious to own their own farm. But that would be too expensive, at least in Hertfordshire.
They decided to emigrate to Australia, where they could buy a patch of bushland cheaply and convert it into good farmland. In October 1910, they set sail on their venture, their first letters home narrating tales full of sea-sickness.
By December the brothers were in Freemantle, Western Australia, where they soon got farm jobs. Life was tough, but by 1911 they had earned enough to buy a 994-acre plot for just 18/6 (under £1) per acre in a place called Narembeen, ‘near’ Perth.
Even in those days, that was a good rate. Arrowsmith Farm was born, though it would take grit and hard work to make a success of it.
In January 1912, a catastrophic bushfire destroyed everything. Whilst working nearby, they saw billowing smoke and raced back to the farmhouse.
In vain they tried to extinguish the 40-foot flames – until a bullet whizzed past Bert’s head, a foretaste of things to come. Loaded shotguns had been left in the house.
Exhausted, the brothers were literally left with the clothes on their backs. Down, but not out, they got new jobs to tide themselves over, and went back to rebuilding their lives.
In 1914, the First World War started to cast its shadow, even as far as Australia. The brothers got on with the farming, but bit by bit began to feel that they should play their part.
By 1916, with war entrenched in Europe, the brothers brought in their harvest, leased out their holding, and enlisted for the army.
On October 10, 1916 Bert left for France, and arrived at the front three weeks later. In December, he was given leave and came home to England to an enthusiastic family reunion.
This was their last get-together. Frank reached England not long after and likewise spent Christmas at home.
Bert passed the next nine months in the thick of battle in France and Belgium, enduring cold, hunger and discomfort. He was hospitalised for a while with “trench foot”, and met Frank there for what turned out to be the last time.
On October 16, 1917, Bert was badly wounded in the chest from an ‘aeroplane bomb’. With great difficulty he wrote a few lines to his parents on the 21st, telling them of the incident, but cheerfully told them not to worry – he was doing alright.
On October 28, Bert sadly died of his injuries. His death hit Frank particularly hard.
Around the same time, Frank had received a shrapnel wound, and was sent back to England. Fortunately, he was able to recuperate in the Red Cross Hospital in Pond House, Codicote, just a few doors from his parents!
By June 2018, Frank was fit enough to return to the front line.
Unfortunately, he was seriously injured soon afterwards at Vignacourt and died at 11am on July 25. Frank was buried ‘in a quiet little graveyard far behind the battle line’.
Both brothers feature on the war memorial in Codicote churchyard, along with 34 others who lost their lives in the ‘War to end all Wars’.
Lest we forget.
Everyone is welcome to Codicote Local History Society’s monthly talks. For details, contact Nicholas Maddex (nkmaddex@btinternet.com) or check www.codicotelocalhistorysociety.co.uk.
Explore your interest in history today!
Reference: ‘Blain Brothers: Pioneers’ by Iris Bristow, Codicote Local History Society.
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