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Preston-O-B-Pte-5092

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 2 years, 3 months ago

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

Oscar Blanchard Preston, detail

from a family photograph, 1916.

Courtesy of Lesley Preston.

Preston O B Pte 5092 Oscar Blanchard 29 Inf Bn 20 Printer Single Pres

Address: Newmarket, Edinburgh St, 25

Next of Kin: Preston, J W, father, 25 Edinburgh St, Newmarket

Enlisted: 6 Sep 1917

Embarked: A38 Ulysses 22 Dec 1917

Relatives on Active Service:

Preston-A-C-Pte-4299 brother KIA

"STAR" OF THE "THISTLE"
ENLISTS IN THE THOUSAND
Oscar Preston, "star" player of the Thistle Football Club, Newmarket, has
enlisted in the Sportsmen's Thousand, and will go into camp on Monday.
Preston passed the medical test six months ago, but his father would not
permit him to attest until he was 20 years of age. For some years past he
has been employed in the machine room of Messrs. Troedel and Cooper,
printers, of Bank place, and last evening was tendered a farewell by the
firm. He was presented with a wristlet watch, a money belt, and a silver-
mounted pipe, a stirring speech being delivered by Mr. A. J. Woodham, a
member of the Sportsmen's Thousand Committee.

"I'm looking forward to a fine time among the 'sports,' " said Preston to-
day, "and I'm sure I couldn't do better than join up with the Thousand.

So many of my pals have gone that I couldn't hold back any longer."

"STAR" OF THE "THISTLE" ENLISTS IN THE THOUSAND. (1917, September 21).

The Herald (Melbourne, Vic.), p. 1. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242475305

Flemington-Kensington Church News, March 1919

5092, Pte. O. B. Preston, 29th Batt., embarked 22nd Dec., 1917, and sailed for Taranto, in Southern Italy. He travelled by train through the whole length of Italy, through the Alps, and across France. The Alpine scenery will be ever memorable to Oscar, and the whole long journey was full of interest. The men were then hurried across the marvellous channel ferry and on arrival in England were entrained for Codford Military Camp. On leave he visited Leeds.

He was ordered to France on 10th March, 1918, and went straight on to Amiens. This was at the time of the German break-through. It is a matter of history how the Australians "stopped the rot " of the retreat, and formed a line which the Germans tried again and again to break, but did not succeed. The Germans were first observed marching in fours on the road near Corby. Rifle fire at first held the Hun. On 8th August our army moved forward 14 to 16 miles.

On the 9th Oscar received a severe wound in the shin and was taken to the Bristol C.C.S. He was then taken to the 16th General American, and later to the Canadian Hospital at Orphington, in England and last of all to the 3rd A.A.H., at Dartford. Oscar returned home invalided, about a month ago, and we earnestly hope that our young soldier will soon, with all the care of home life, fully recover.