Captain George Lewis Blake CONCANON Clicking on Photo will return to Page C - D

CONCANON Captain George Lewis Blake (Mentioned in Depatches). C Company, 2nd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force Born 4th February 1881 at Brisbane, Queensland [Birth certificate: 81/B 027676, Qld] Educated: Toowoomba Grammar School, Qld; The Armidale School, NSW; Hawkesbury Agricultural College, NSW; The Leys School, England; Cambridge University, England Married; Occupation: 'Independent means' Next of Kin listed as: Wife; Evelyn Etta Concanon, of 'National Bank of Australasia Ltd., Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW / 'Maylagh', Cleveland Street, Wahroongha, Sydney, NSW Photos of Captain Concanon are known to exist in the following locations: Anzac Memorial p48. Armidalian Jun 1915 p2. Hawkesbury Agricultural College Journal 1 Jun 1915 p84. Sydney Town & Country Journal 30 Sep 1914 p26 & 12 May 1915 p26. Sydney Mail 12 May 1915 p10. Reveille Vol.5 No.9; 1 Jun 1932 p13

Birth Certificate Register states: Father; William Augustus Concanon. Mother; Elizabeth Lloyd Concanon (nee Jenkins).

Patricia Elizabeth Blake CONCANON [Daughter] married Rawson HILL in Gosford NSW, in 1943. [Marriage certificate NSW 1943 2419].

Previously served in Sherwood Foresters (Militia, England) and 19th Infantry (based in Gladesville, Sydney, NSW).
CWGC lists: Father; William Augustus Concanon. Mother; Elizabeth Lloyd Jenkins.
Was at one time a planter in New Guinea. Married in NSW, 1910.

Only child; born 4th February 1881. Attended Leys School, graduated into King's College, Cambridge. Studied languages, perfected French and German. 'Five years ago he returned to Australia, where he married and lived in Wahroonga. 2nd Lieut. Oct 1910. Gazetted Major, Commonwealth Militia Forces, May 1915. 'He was considered one of our most efficient and brilliant junior officers, for he attended every school of instruction and military camp, both Light Horse and Infantry, for which he was eligible, and was widely read in all military subjects. He leaves a widow and little girl.' (Armidalian Jun 1915 p1, 3).

'He received his commission as a second lieutenant in the old Irish Rifles (now the 33rd Infantry) in October 1910, and in April, 1913, was promoted to the rank of captain. On the formation of the 19th (Kuring-gai) Infantry he was transferred to that regiment, and took over the command of the Hornsby company, where he remained till he went with the Expeditionary Force. He was 33 years of age.
He was the son of the late Dr. Concanon, and was born at Dalby, Queensland. He attended the Toowoomba Grammar School and the Armidale School, and subsequently went to Cambridge University. He entered the Hawkesbury Agricultural College in 1903, and pursued practical courses in training.
His mother was a daughter of Dr. R.L. Jenkins, the well known Shorthorn breeder of Nepean Towers, Penrith. Concanon was a nephew of Dr. E. Jenkins, of Macquarie Street, Sydney, and of Major Jenkins, of Gosford. Ex-student Jenkins who is now at the front is his cousin.' (Hawkesbury Agricultural College Journal 1 Jun 1915 p84).

Only child of Dr. and Mrs Concanon of Brisbane, Qld. Educated Armidale School. Time at Cambridge University cut short due to ill health. Commissioned in Sherwood Foresters, returned to Australia and married. Left a widow and 2 year old daughter.


'I call to mind Capt. Shout, of the 1st Bn., who received a M.C. at the Landing, and a V.C. and death at the Pine. Here was a man - a born leader, with wonderful control. I first saw him when we lay behind a ridge with bullets cutting the leaves and twigs off the bushes just above our heads.
Hell! I was scared; almost every second man was dead, and hope was lost! I prayed as I had been taught as a kid. If somebody had said run for the beach I would have been an easy winner. Along the ridge came an officer, just strolling, carrying a stick and a revolver - it was Shout!
A brave leader who sensed the position, he rushed us over the skyline into a better possie; gave fire orders, and passed on, unhurt. This was my first experience of individual courage - that stuff we call 'guts' - and I've never forgotten Shout.
Captain Concanon, my own beloved company commander, did the same thing repeatedly on Monday, the 26th - he held his company and others on one of the tightest spots against repeated Turkish attacks until he was shot down and died in the front line of his own men. 'C' Company of the 2nd never forgot Concanon; he set a standard for the dozens of O.C.'s it had during the war.' (Millar, Capt. K. MC. 'Control Over Fear: The Secret Of Leadership.' Reveille Vol. 9 No. 8; 1 Apr 1936 p12).

Killed while clearing a newly-dug enemy trench between Walker's Ridge and the Nek:
'The Turks continued firing from the scrub beyond this trench, and it was decided to turn them out. The line therefore advanced some 125 yards with the bayonet and tried to dig in. Concanon was killed, and losses were heavy'. (See also the record for Lt Colonel BRAUND); (Bean V1 p333, 472, 501, 503, [killed 508 quoted], 513).

27 April: 'Our Coy. com. Captain Concanon killed while leading his men in a bayonet charge. The Brigadier & Major Irving [Irvine] the Brigade Major have been shot dead. Our heroic Col (Braund) saved a grave situation in the evening with his Reg. (or what was left of it) and one machine gun. He was cool and fearless. (Diary, Pte Hector Brewer, 2nd Bn).

'Harold Heydon, now secretary of the N.S.W. Cricket Association, who was senior sergeant and was with Concanon the whole time of this fight, assures me that 'Con.' was wounded no fewer than four times in the two days. He applied field dressings and carried on! Eventually he sat down, with his back to a bush for support, and directed the fire until his final wound - a direct rifle shot in the forehead.' (Millar, Ken. 'Captain Concanon: An Irish Gentleman.' Reveille Vol.5 No.9; 1 Jun 1932 p13)

Letter from Major Leslie J. Morshead to Mrs Rsl. Richardson, July 19th 1915 reads, in part:
'And poor old Major Gordon. C.G. and I were great chums. Concannon went down to it like a man. I wrote to his widow some time before I got your letter. I miss Dave Heugh most of all; he was always so bright and cheery - an optimist of optimists. His was a personality I will ever remember. All told, 12 officers were killed and 12 wounded. Things are not the same with us now.' (Armidale Express 3 Sept 1915 p4).