Frans Albert Nyblom

Born 16.05.1887
Place Bromarv, Finland
Ethnic origin Finnish
Religion Church of England
Father Rederick Nyblom
Mother Eva Saderland (Soderlund)
Family

Wife Norah Nyblom (Parfrey), married 1920, son Nyblom, Francis Alfred, b.1924

Arrived at Australia from Liverpool, England
on 18.12.1913
per Celtecglaw
disembarked at Melbourne
Residence before enlistment Melbourne
Occupation 1916 sailor, 1942 able seaman, ships officer
Naturalisation 1920
Residence after the war Melbourne

Service #1

Service number 1891
Enlisted 29.02.1916
Place of enlistment Melbourne
Unit 38th Battalion
Rank Private
Place Western Front, 1916
Casualties WIA, POW 1916
Final fate RTA 31.01.1919
Discharged 11.08.1919 MU

Service #2 – WWII

Service number V353219
Enlisted 28.031942
Place of enlistment Kensington, Vic.
Unit 1 st Bn, VDC
Discharged 7.10.1945

Materials

Blog article

Russian

English

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

During the winter months of 1916-17 the Australian 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Divisions were holding positions near Gueudecourt, engaged in what the official history referred to as 'minor operations'. [...] The Finnish seaman Frans Albert Nyblom tells about one such 'minor' operation at Armentières one night in December: 'I was with a party of Bombers ... Our objective was to enter the enemy trenches, remain there 15 minutes, do as much damage as possible and then return.' No sooner had they started to cut the wire than enemy machine-guns opened up and the Australians were pinpointed by the search-lights, although they still managed to throw a few bombs. Every member of this party of eight was killed or wounded, and it was believed Nyblom had been killed, too. Sergeant W.S. Roe gave evidence, saying: 'Nyblom, I am almost sure, was immediately in front of me. In fact his body must have received several bullets that were intended for me. I have no doubt that that person was killed.' Others saw him 'absolutely riddled with bullets'. Nyblom did survive, however; wounded in the foot, he lay out on no-man's-land until morning, when he was found by the Germans and taken prisoner.

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