James Colville Blackett

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Sat, 27/06/2015 - 11:23

First Name:

James

Middle Name:

Colville

Last Name:

Blackett

Mother's Name:

Louisa (nee Reece)

Father's Name:

Edward Blackett

Date Enlisted:

Monday, November 9, 1914

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

13th Battalion

Company:

A Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Sunday, May 2, 1915

Place of Death:

Gallipoli

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

James Blackett was born in Bathurst about 1889 and moved to Scarborough with his family. At enlistment he was a single 23 year old labourer who had spent 12 months with the St Georges Rifles CMF.

He embarked on HMAT A35 Berrima from Melbourne on 22nd December 1914 with 1st Reinforcements, 13th Battalion. After training in Egypt he went with the first group of soldiers to Gallipoli. James landed with A Company on 25th April and survived those first frantic days. On the evening of Sunday 2nd May he was engaged in a charge near Dead Mans Ridge, from which he did not return. He was listed as missing on 3rd May but later declared killed in action on 2nd May.

James has no known grave and is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial. His brother George Blackett (Service No 1884) also served winning the Military Medal.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, BLACKETT J C