Regimental Sergeant-Major 6118 Thomas Bluck M.C. 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Thomas Bluck joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1899 and not long afterwards he had the opportunity of proving his mettle in the Boer War. He arrived in South Africa and after the initial training, and fought in the war avoiding most of the bloodbath by his late arrival. He gained his South African Medals as Corp. after quick promotion, he received Q. S. A. clasps, South Africa in 1901, and South Africa medal in 1902. He Embarked with the 1st Batt,R.W.F on the 6th October 1914 for France fighting all the way back to the coast on the retreat from Men's. In a letter from the front concerning that terrible struggle in October it stated :-
The Sergeant Major, two Staff Sergeants have been -wounded, three Colour Sergeants are prisoners in Germany, and two Colour Sergeants, Craven and Sullivan were missing Sergeant Bluck was the last sergeant to get wounded, he was one of the last two left and did splendid work, being practically in command of a double company for days. If the commissioned Officer or Adjutant had been here he would probably have got the V.C. , which he deserves.. Colonel R. Gabbett, who was killed in action recently and at the time of the Ypres engagement was Major, was wounded at the same time as when Sergeant Major Bluck was hit, and was instrumental, it is understood in obtaining official recognition of his N.C.O. 's gallantry.
The Battalion suffered severely in that conflict, Sergeant Bluck was one of the last two left of his rank after the battle, and the last to get wounded, he was practically in command of a double company for 2 days, and for his gallantry it gained him The Russian Cross and his Sergeant-Majorship He had two slight wounds but refused to go to hospital, and of course, to England
CQMS 4016 William Sullivan from Enniskillen, who enlisted Caernarfon and CQMS 8284 Sidney Craven born and enlisted in Birmingham were both killed in action with another 78 other men on 30th October 1914, 24 days after landing in France.
In The Birmingham Daily Post printed on the 13th Dec. 1914, 185 RWF men listed as missing -88 of those we know were taken as POW and 80 were killed in Action, and one was shot for desertion. Bluck was made Sergeant Major a month later, He was born Birmingham, his parents are among the oldest residents living at 103 Wright Street, Small Heath having resided there for 25 years while 40 years of there lives have been spent living in the city. He has three brothers serving in the armed forces they are:- Sgt. William Bluck 3rd Batt. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who has been six years with the colours, and is now a Staff-Orderly. Private Harold Bluck who is in R.A.M.C. (The Royal Army Medical School) and Private Frank Bluck 5th Royal Warwick's (Transport Section) now in France and who formerly worked at the City Gas Works.
Regimental Sergeant Major Thomas Bluck went on to get further glory on the battlefields of France and twice he was mentioned in Despatches for conspicuous bravery in operations near Hullach during the "Big Push" as the German trenches were captured Bluck, with cool precision, followed up, establishing ammunition depot's in them under a hail of bullets and shells and constantly encouraged his men to put all they were worth into the offensive. Bluck escaped death by a miracle and received a bullet through his right arm.
It is pretty safe to say that at the age of 35 very few Birmingham man got the honours bestowed on Bluck That he received, he has the proud record of having gained :-
S.A Medal, South African Queens Clasp
Military Cross; The Russian Cross of St.George Fourth Class; and the French Military Cross
Mon's Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal.
He retired from the Army in 1924 and spent the rest of his days in Small Heath, Birmingham He was one of Birmingham's Greatest Heroes to come out of the Great War of 1914-18
Truly a Remarkable Man
Article by Graham Knight
