Eric BLACKWELL

Regimental number2904
Place of birthKempton, Tasmania
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationMotor mechanic
AddressKempton, Tasmania
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 8"
Weight164 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Emma Blackwell, Kempton, Tasmania
Previous military serviceMember of the Kempton Rifle Club for 6 years.
Enlistment date27 July 1915
Place of enlistmentClaremont, Tasmania
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name12th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/29/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 27 September 1915
Rank from Nominal RollDriver
Unit from Nominal RollAustralian Mechanical Transport Services
FateReturned to Australia 22 November 1919
Discharge date15 February 1921
Family/military connectionsBrother: 1007 Corporal Henry Albert BLACKWELL, 3rd Australian Light Railway Operating Company, returned to Australia, 20 November 1918.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 12th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 7 January 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 29 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 5 April 1916.

Found guilty, 3 May 1916, of while on Active Service, contrary to Routine Order 77, para. 449, being absent from billet 2100 (30 minutes), 29 April 1916: awarded 72 hours' Field Punishment No 2.

Admitted to 4th Casualty Clearing Station, 31 July 1916; transferred to Ambulance Train No 4, 1 August 1916, and admitted to 22nd General Hospital, Camiers, 2 August 1916 (undescended left testicle); discharged to Base, 6 August 1916.

Admitted to 26th General Hospital, Etaples, 18 September 1916 (undescended left testicle); transferred to England, 19 September 1916, and admitted to 1/4th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln, 20 September 1916; transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 9 November 1916; discharged on furlough, 15 November 1916, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 30 November 1916.

Marched into No 4 Command Depot, Wareham, from Perham Downs, 4 December 1916.

Taken on strength, Australian Motor Transport Services, Chelsea, and mustered as Driver, 30 January 1917.

Detached for duty at Army Medical Corps Training Depot, 10 May 1917.

Reverted to the ranks, 12 July 1917.

Admitted to Military Hospital, Grantham, 7 February 1918 (pleurisy); discharged to Machine Gun Training Depot, Grantham, 7 March 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Aeneas', 22 November 1919; admitted to ship's hospital at sea, 29 November 1919; discharged to duty, 15 December 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 9 January 1920; discharged (medically unfit), 15 February 1921.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death25 June 1939
Place of burialSt Mary's Cemetery, Kempton, Tasmania
SourcesNAA: B2455, BLACKWELL Eric