HMAS Una
BLESSLEY, Russell Forbes
Service no 3636
Petty Officer
HMAS Una
Enlisted Melbourne 6 February 1914. Posted to HMAS Encounter 19 July 1915, and 12 months later to HMAS Una (ex-German yacht Komet). On 22 October 1916, Una under the command of Captain H R Jackson RN, and the French gunboat Kersaint arrived at Malekula to mount a punitive expedition against rebellious natives. Seven police boys and eight natives were killed and 40% of the crew contracted malaria. Discharged on 14 July 1923.
Age 16, Student, single, Church of England. He was 5'11" with a fresh complexion, grey eys and light auburn hair. Born at Warragul. Son of Mrs Sophia Blessley, 32 Armadale Road, Northcote. Awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918, Allied Victory Medal 1914-1918. Brother of Sergeant Horace William Digby Blessley who served with 57 Battalion. On the Warragul Shire Honour Board, and also in a Roll of Honour published in the West Gippsland Gazette on 11 March 1919.
Courtesy of Ron Blair
Service no 3636
Petty Officer
HMAS Una
Enlisted Melbourne 6 February 1914. Posted to HMAS Encounter 19 July 1915, and 12 months later to HMAS Una (ex-German yacht Komet). On 22 October 1916, Una under the command of Captain H R Jackson RN, and the French gunboat Kersaint arrived at Malekula to mount a punitive expedition against rebellious natives. Seven police boys and eight natives were killed and 40% of the crew contracted malaria. Discharged on 14 July 1923.
Age 16, Student, single, Church of England. He was 5'11" with a fresh complexion, grey eys and light auburn hair. Born at Warragul. Son of Mrs Sophia Blessley, 32 Armadale Road, Northcote. Awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918, Allied Victory Medal 1914-1918. Brother of Sergeant Horace William Digby Blessley who served with 57 Battalion. On the Warragul Shire Honour Board, and also in a Roll of Honour published in the West Gippsland Gazette on 11 March 1919.
Courtesy of Ron Blair
POCOCK, Francis Alfred
Service No 2598 Ordinary Seaman HMAS Una Born 19 November 1890 at East Shelbourne, Vic. Son of James POCOCK Of Marong, Vic. Enlisted 04 February 1913 for 7 years Able Seaman Frank Pocock, aged 24, and married, with his wife living at Clifton Hill, joined the Australian navy, some few years back. As a member of the crew of the Yarra, he took part in the stirring operations in New Guinea and elsewhere, and when the veil of secrecy regarding the movements of the navy in this great war is lifted some time in the future, and we know what our boats have been doing, no doubt Frank Pocock will have further in teresting stories to tell. Bendigonian Thursday 12 October 1916 page 2 |