Regimental number | 3023 |
Place of birth | Naracoorte, South Australia |
School | Naracoorte Public School, South Australia |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Labourer |
Address | Naracoorte, South Australia |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 23 |
Height | 5' 8.25" |
Weight | 157 lbs |
Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Mary Blacksell, Naracoorte, South Australia |
Previous military service | Nil |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Adelaide, South Australia |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 27th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/44/2 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A7 Medic on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of death or wounding | Fromelles, France |
Date of death | |
Age at death | 23 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.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 |
Sources | NAA: B2455, BLACKSELL William Richard
Red Cross file 410506 |