Ralph Henry Blackett

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 21/03/2015 - 09:48

First Name:

Ralph

Middle Name:

Henry

Last Name:

Blackett

Date of Birth:

Sunday, February 5, 1882

Mother's Name:

Emily (nee Robinson)

Father's Name:

Robert Blackett

Date Enlisted:

Friday, January 14, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

34th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, September 25, 1954

Place of Death:

Newcastle, New South Wales

Details:

Private Ralph Blackett (Service no. 369) was born in Charters Towers, Queensland on 5th February, 1882. The family came to Mount Kembla where two of his brothers, Albert and Robert, were killed in the 1902 mine disaster.

On 12th June, 1906 Ralph married Annie Walker and he worked as a fettler at the time of enlistment. Ralph and two of his other brothers also enlisted in the AIF.

Ralph embarked on HMAT A20 Hororata with 34th Battalion on 2nd May, 1916. Ralph sailed in the same Company as his brother Charles. He served on the Western Front and on 30th September, 1917 was wounded in action. His file does not specify the injury but it must have been serious as he was returned to Australia in February 1918, and later discharged medically unfit on 26th June, 1918. His file states he was wounded by hostile aircraft.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BLACKETT R H