The AIF Project

William Richard BLACKSELL

Regimental number3023
Place of birthNaracoorte, South Australia
SchoolNaracoorte Public School, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressNaracoorte, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation23
Height5' 8.25"
Weight157 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Mary Blacksell, Naracoorte, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date4 August 1915
Place of enlistmentAdelaide, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name27th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/44/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 12 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll32nd Battalion
FateKilled in Action 20 July 1916
Place of death or woundingFromelles, France
Date of death20 July 1916
Age at death23
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 4), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
119
Other details

War service: Western Front

Taken on strength, 32nd Bn (supernumerary), Duntroon Plateau, 6 April 1916; aborbed on strength, 24 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

Reported missing, 20 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'KILLED IN ACTION, 20 July 1916'.

Note on Red Cross File No 410506: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills, 10.10.19.'

Statement, 53 Lance Corporal M. BROWN, 32nd Bn (Convalescent Camp, Rouen), 7 February 1917: After the fight at Fromelles on the date mentioned I was told ... that he Blacksell and [200 L.G.] Wall were all charging together when a shell burst and killed Blacksell and Wall instantly without touching himself, and that he had had a wonderful escape. This happened within a few yards of our trench, just after they had gone over the parapet.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BLACKSELL William Richard
Red Cross file 410506

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