John reginald Blackman was the son of George Blackman and cousin to the Blackman's of Miners Rest.

His father, George Blackman, brother of William Blackman

Source: GRO Births
Blackman George  2nd Quarter 1846  Dartford  vol. 5 page  94 

Left: George Blackman's GRO birth registration in the Dartford Registration District

Right: A composite image of George Blackman's christening registration at Wilmington

George was the caretaker of the Ararat Town Hall, after following many other trades including a brick labourer and a miner.

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John reginald Blackman's family

                                George Blackman ... m.          ... Mary jane Cox
                                b.2ndQt1846                         b.
                                c.12jul1846
                                d.                                  d.
                                |
                                |==============|============|=========||
Oliver john                     Frank          Joseph       John reginald (Jack)
Looney DCM                                                  Blackman
b.30oct1886  Amphitheatre, Victoria                         b.16aug1888  Stawell, Victoria
d.18sep1954  Maryborough, Victoria                          d.24apr1974  Adelaide, South
|                                                           |            Australia
m.12jun1919  Cleator Moor, Cumberland                       m.29oct1919  St Andrew's,
|                                                           |            Ararat, Victoria
Margaret florence                                           Marianne
Pearson                                                     Edmonds
b.07aug1888  Cleator Moor, UK                               b.19sep1893  Serviceton, Vic.
d.03jun1964                                                 d.19sep1971  Ararat, Victoria
|                                                           |
|                               |============|==============|============|=========||
|                               Beth         Joan           Lola         Gwenda   
|                               b......1920  b.             b.           b.
|                               d......1982  d.             d.           d.
|                                            |              |            |
|                                            m.             m.           m.
|============|============|==================|              |            |
Jack         Betty        Nancy              Oliver james                Vincent 
kingsley                                     pearson (Jim)  McLean       patrick
                                             Looney                      Murphy
                                             of Warnambool  
b.17may1920  b......1925  b.12jun1930        b.09jul1922                 b.....~1918
d.           d.           d.                 d.                          d......2002
|            |                               |                           |
m.           m......1960  m.19oct1953                                    |=========||
|            |            |                                              Deborah
Edna         William e    Stanley                                        b.
             Ross         Bartlett                                       d.
b.           b.           b.
d.           d......2008  d.

Right: Map locating Stawell, the birth place of JR Blackman and many of his family.

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		Left: George Blackman and Mary jane Cox circa 1902, with family Source: Debbie Roberts
Right: A family photograph believed to be the daughters of George Blackman Source: Debbie Roberts

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Right: Oliver james pearson Looney (Jim) and Joan Blackman in 2003. Oliver John Looney is the great uncle of a colleague and friend of mine of twenty five years. JR Blackman, being a cousin of the Blackman boys, is related to Caleb by marriage. Caleb was my great, great grandfather's youngest brother. This very distant relationship was not discovered until June 2009.

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The war of John Reginald Blackman

The following table show extracts from John reginald's war record. Certain points, which are illustrated in more detail, are in chronological order.

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His enlistment details

At the time of enlistment he was described as:

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To Gallipoli

In theory the departure of the Benalla, on 19 October 1914, should have been a trip of some luxury. The Benalla had been delivered to P & O, for UK/Australian emigration via The Cape, in February 1913. She had been requisitioned as an Australian Transport in September 1914. Interestingly, in 1927, the Benalla took the first load of steel for the construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge. Right: HMAT A24 Benalla

Lt JR Blackman distinguished himself at Pozieres on 23 July 1916

'The HQ of the 7th and 8th Battalions was sited in the Gibraltar strong point, but even that concrete structure succumbed to the shelling, and two signallers were killed when part of the roof caved in. The constant shelling was now seriously affecting the fighting capacity of the troops in the forward trenches. ... The terror of Pozieres is dramatically captured in a letter written to his parents by Reg Johanesen:

We lay in shell holes all night and as soon as dawn came they started to shell, and all hell let loose. They shelled us all day without a break and men we getting skittled everywhere. I shall never forget the cries of the wounded for Stretcher Bearers. We never had a moment’s spell from them until the time we were relieved. I could hear the cries for Stretcher Bearers in my sleep for weeks after. We were four days in that hell.

The officers and men of the 8th Battalion emerged with flying colours from what was their first real experience of war on the Western Front. The continual pounding of artillery was a far cry from the pitiful bombardments that had been the norm at Gallipoli. Some of the battalion members who distinguished themselves during the first attack on Pozieres included: … Lieutenant John Blackman … The casualty lists emerging from Pozieres were cast a pall of gloom over Australian community, as the home front at last fully realised the high price of victory demanded.'

Source: Austin R, ‘Cobbers in Khaki: History of the 8th Battalion 1914-1918’, Slouched Hat, Reprinted 2004, page 122

For this action Lt. Col G Coulter, O/C 8th Battalion recommended John Robert [sic] for the Military Cross. However, this recommendation was amended to the 'Silver Medal'. This, a Serbian bravery medal, commonly known as "Milosh Obilich Medal for Bravery", was founded on 12 July 1913 by King Peter I, and awarded for acts of the conspicuous personal bravery, or for personal bravery in the field. During the Great War both Serbian national and allied military personnel received the award. The Bravery Medal was worn suspended from the red ribbon. Since the Serbs fought on the Allies side their officers were officially decorated. It was more a "honorary/diplomatic" decoration. Note the incorrect second name - a secretarial error? The nominal roll of the 8th Battalion and of the AIF shows only one JR Blackman.

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Clicking on the icon will open a full page A4 Records of Service citation sent to G Blackman in Stawell Source: National Archives of Australia - Defence Service Records

A letter diary of Lieut. Pitt 8th AIF Bn - see Battalion photograph below

Evening All

42nd Instalment Friday August 18th [1916]

Reveille 6 o/c. Moved out each man carrying a tin of water, to reserve trench in sausage gully. Relieved some of the 7th battalion. The shelling has been pretty severe this morning although they have left us alone. Our regimental MO and his orderly were burned by a bursting shell in the line today and both had to go away. We have a new Doc now and miss the old fellow who is very popular, being absolutely fearless. Rumours of a hop out tonight. Things here have altered considerably since we were here last. The line has now been pushed forward considerably and places which were very lively previously are now comparatively peaceful. Arrived at reserve trench about 5.30 and were sent with 100 extra rounds of SAA [small arms ammunition], 2 sandbags and 2 bombs and then made our way up a very much battered communication trench to battalion HQ, and remained near by until close on 9 o/c. Previous to this however Mr Blackman had got all the NCO’s together and told them that A "&" C company’s were hopping out. We moved and occupied the hop out trench they left and upon being assured that they had taken their objection we are to dig accommodation trench towards them for our lines. Our artillery opened up a heavy kettledrum fire about 9 o/c and we hopped out to occupy the trench A and C company’s had left, but when we got half way we were blocked and whilst waiting got the full benefit of the Hun barrage, no cover. Twice our boys went at their objection and twice failed to get it. All available men were then got lined for a third attempt, D coy, however still being kept in reserve and incidentally getting badly blown about but it was no good. Our officers did some splendid work especially Captain Lodge, Lt Munning? and Lt Bordwin?. Our casualties were very severe. Captain Hardy and Lt’s O’Kelly?, Dabb? and Rodd? missing, Lt Doolen? killed, Captain Lodge, Lts Beck, Tickle, Fox wounded and a large number of NCO’s and men killed and wounded. God knows to what the failure can be attributed, but machine gun fire seemed to come from totally unexpected quarters. The 7th battalion attempted assembly movement on our left with the same result. My platoon sergeant Sgt Whitfield was very badly wounded and I had to take over his duties.

Sorry not much tonight as it took ages to work out the text and now my eyes are killing me.

Night all Regards

Source: a British Great War Forum - with a long thread

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Mentioned in Dispatches - 21 January 1917

Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) is a military award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service. The award is relatively common, does not confer a medal and is relatively low in the order of precedence.

A dispatch is an official report from a senior commander, usually of an army, to his superiors, detailing the conduct of military operations. This report is published in the London Gazette. If a subordinate officer or soldier performs a noteworthy action included in the report, he is said to have been "mentioned in dispatches". In JR's case the Dispatch was from Sir Douglas Haig, GCB, Commander-in-Chief of the British Armies in France, perhaps to General Sir William Robertson, 1st Bt, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, Chief of the Imperial General Staff.

In the AIF, soldiers mentioned in dispatches received a certificate and were entitled to wear a bronze oak leaf on the ribbon of the campaign medal - JR's 1914-15 Star.

Clicking on the icon will open a full page A4 Records of Service citation sent to G Blackman in Stawell Source: National Archives of Australia - Defence Service Records

The action at Polygon Wood - 20 September 1917

The Official History only makes general references to the 8th Battalion action when JR Blackman won his Military Cross.

'The 8th Battalion, on far right, advance to the Green Line occupied in most parts only a few minutes. Everyone expected resistance at the points from which fire had been coming during the pause, and, if the Germans there had now been ready to come into the open, taking all risks, they could have caused great trouble. But the renewed impact of the overwhelming barrage had dissipated any such tendency. As the line advanced the enemy appeared glad to surrender.

From the row of pillboxes north of the Reutelbeek, Germans came running to give themselves up to the 8th Battalion. On the ridge itself, when the barrage died down, the thin stumps of Polygon Wood, shimmering in the noon-day heat above a wilderness of brown shell holes, showed in most parts no sign of movement. From the grim mound at its farther end a few figures, apparently observers, were hunted off by Lewis guns and by increased shelling.' Right: Map location action of 8th Bn. 20-09-17 in the Battle of the Menin Road

This icon opens a Word2003 document, adapted from Bean. It gives more information about the battle and mentions the part played by the 8th Battalion.

This icon opens a Word2003 document. The 8th, along with the 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions formed the Second Brigade of the First Division. This account, describing the part played by the 5th Battalion, gives a flavour of what the 8th would have experienced.

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The War Diary of 8th Battalion and the medal citation gives more detail.

• Chateau Segard was a larger training camp, with specific area for the Australian Army. Today it is a farm, with only two road side pillar of its former glory. It is described as being near Cafe Belge, which was located at the intersection of the Ypres - Dikkebus (Dickebusch) road and the Valmertinge - Voormezele road.
• Zillebeke Bund (map reference I.21.b.1.5) was located in the western dam face of the man-made Zillebeke Lake. This was drained during the war leaving the dam wall to be excavated for 'safe' dugouts which didn't face the enemy..

Above: A map showing the approach march of 8th Battalion toward their action at Polygon Wood. Today Carlisle Farm was just to the north of the A19 motorway - approximately under the 9 Clicking on the camera opens three pages of contemporary illustration and a map of the Chateau Segard area

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The Battle Narrative records JR Blackman's action, as '1 Officer', in winning his MC:

Source: AWM - Australian Imperial Force war diary 1914-1918, Item number 23-25-33, 8th Battalion, September 1917

2nd Brigade Orders Appendix D Intelligence recognised Carlisle Farm as a strong point. It was to be captured and converted into an Australian strong point. Right: Trench map of Carlisle Farm Source: Gheluvelt 28 NE3 of 30-6-17, WO297/738, TNA, Kew, London Click on the image to open an A4 landscape map of the wider area showing movements and positions Source: AWM 2nd Brigade War Diary AM4, 23/2/29, September 1917

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Despite JR's efforts on 20 September Carlisle Farm the German counter attack of 25 September the British 98th Brigade line was thrown into considerable turmoil causing a retirement to a line through Verbeek Farm.

• At 6.30am on 26 September 2/Royal Welch Fusiliers attacked Carlisle Farm and Jerk House to establish a line that over looked Reutelbeek Valley. They took position in the north south trench which lay between Carlisle Farm and Jerk Farm: a trench full of Middlesex dead from the fighting of 25 September. As dusk fell 'D' Coy. fell back to their start line.
• On 27 September Carlisle Farm and the surrounding area was attacked by 11/West Yorkshire Regiment.
• A second counter attack, on 1 October, forced the 9/Leicesters and Green Howards to fall back 200 yards from the Cameron House Reutelbeek line towards Carlisle Farm.

This see-saw of events failed to disturb Plumer's stage-by-stage advance on Passchendaele and Broodseinde ridges.

Source: Cave, Nigel, 'Polygon Wood', Battleground Europe, Leo Cooper, Barnsley, 1999

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Source: Australian War Memorial biographical database of Honours and Awards (Recommendations: First World War)

Above: An extract from JR's Record of Service showing the statement printed in the London Gazette 18 March 1918

Clicking on the icon will open a full page A4 Records of Service citation sent to G Blackman in Stawell Source: National Archives of Australia - Defence Service Records

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Out of the line

On the morning of 29 January 1918 the Battalion marched to new billets at Doncaster Camp, Locre. Despite the weather being cold and the ration being supplemented by 'bully beef' the Battalion football team won the brigade championship. Locre provided a restful break for the battalion, with the major event being the provision of 373 pairs of socks. A series of group portrait of the officers of the 8th Battalion, photographed 20.2.1918 at the Locre Hospice. Source: Austin R, ibid, page 176-179

Left to right, back row: Lieutenant (Lt) A. W. Finlayson MC; Lt S. W. Young MC MM; Lt J. G. Pitt; Lt F. W. Tickle MC; Lt R. W. Dowling MC;
Lt R. Woodhouse.
Middle row: Lt J.G. Evans MC; Lt T. Anderson MC DCM; Lt R.V. Andrewartha; Lt J. Bourke; Lt P.A. Waters MC; Lt P.G. Perkin; Lt J.L. Foott;
Lt W. D. Joynt VC; Lt R.G. Hutson; unidentified; Lt W. D. N. Hooper; Lt S. Young; Lt H. G. Whitton; Lt W.G.M. Claridge.
Front row: Captain A.G. Campbell DSO; Lt J.R. Blackman MC; Lt H.Fenton; Major J.H.P. Eller DSO; Lieutenant Colonel J.W. Mitchell DSO;
Maj. (later Lt Col) J.C.M. Traill DSO MC; Lt A.D. Temple MC; Honorary Capt E. Freeman MC. Photo source: IWM photograph E(AUS)1811

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Raiding party

'At midnight on 1st April [1918], a large raiding party led by Lieutenant [JR] Blackman, with Lieutenants Tickle, Murdoch, Davis and 54 men left the lines and attacked Whiz Farm [Wytschaete, Belgium]. The raid achieved total surprise and resulted in six enemy who were captured and the death of about 40 Germans. Blackman's party attacked a pill box containing 23 enemy, of who 20 were killed, and three captured. ... The patrol's casualties were not light, with five men wounded, three of whom died of their wounds and the Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Davis, missing. Once Blackman ascertained that Davis was missing, he immediately took out another patrol across No Man's Land to the enemy position, in a fruitless search for his fellow officer. Blackman searched along the wire until close to day break when he was forced to return to the battalion position.' (Source: Austin R, ibid, page 187)

The follow extracts from the War Diaries of 8th Battalion, relating to the months of March to October 1918 illustrate JR Blackman's activities.

Wounded in action

At this time Lieut. JR Blackman MC was officer commanding 'B' Coy. The Battalion was preparing to move from Sercus is west-south-west of Hazelbrouck to the Forward Area at Merris, east of Hazelbrouck.

From midnight 28 June 1917 Lt. Col. JW Mitchell D.S.O. Commanding Officer 8th Battalion sent out two Officer patrols to assess his new front. In general the wire was secure and satisfactory and an unused enemy listening post was discovered. One patrol was fired on by enemy machineguns and two men were wounded.

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Source: '8th Battalion War Diary', TNA WO95/3240, Kew, London   Also: 8th Battalion War Diary, Australian War Memorial

JR was evacuated to hospital with a sever gun shot wound to the left shoulder.  Was he snipped? And if so, he was very lucky that it was not a heart shot.

Lt.Col. Mitchell was so concerned by his position that, on 29 June 1918, he sent a signal to Division saying that 'unless [they] wire otherwise' he would advance his right and centre-right line at midnight, about 250 yards, to deny the enemy the high ground overlooking his position. Perhaps this highland was the position of the snipers.

It is difficult to know whether this attack took place:

• The signal has a pen marked and initialled 'Yes';
• The War Diary mentions only 'The improvements of the front defences and wiring was carried out during the hours of darkness;
• During the morning of 29 June the Divisional Commander and G.O.C. 2nd Brigade visited Battn H.Q. They then proceeded on a tour of the forward defences.

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Admitted 3^rd London General Hospital

Soon after War broke out No.3 London General was mobilised at the Royal Patriotic School, Wandsworth Common. The CO Bruce Porter agreed to take on a group of men as RAMC orderlies, all members of the Chelsea Arts Club, who were either too old, or unfit for other military service. Thus, he accumulated a wonderful collection of artists, sculptors, writers and poets, and laid the foundations for a hospital journal 'The Gazette.' This magnificent building has been restored and converted into residential and commercial accommodation and is now known as the Royal Victoria Patriotic Building.

Above: 3rd London General Hospital in 1916

It is situated opposite Wandsworth Prison and was used during World War 2 by the military intelligence sections responsible for detecting and interrogating spies, and operating the 'Double Cross system' of double-agents.

Source: 'The Origins of the 3rd London General Hospital' reprinted from 'The Gazette', February 1917
An account of life in the 1800 bed hospital can be read at: Muir, Ward L, 'Observations of an orderly (January 1, 1917)',Kent and Co. Ltd., 1917, particularly Chapter 6, page 93, which deals with the arrival of the wounded.

Convalescing at Cobham Hall

Above: Map locating Cobham Hall, Kent where JR spent time convalescing. Note its close proximity to Wilmington, his father's birth place. Debbie Roberts writes: 'I do know that he convalesced at Cobham Hall in Kent, and rumour has it that he finally got in touch with some of his family from Kent, as later in our family history, a lady arrived in Australia and presented a photo of JR and [cousin] Lyle that had been taken in England. No one seems to know who this person was, or how they fit in.'

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Cobham Hall is steeped in history. It dates back to the 12th century, when the manor house was granted by Henry II to a French knight.

Elizabeth I visited on two occasions and Charles I spent a night of his honeymoon at Cobham. Charles Dickens often passed through the park on his way from his home at Gads Hill to partake of the ale at the Leather Bottle Inn in Cobham village, frequently stopping to visit his friend, the Earl of Darnley. Joshua Reynolds and Gainsborough were regular visitors, and the Duke of Wellington once famously lost his hat during a shooting party in the grounds.

Above: Cobham Hall, Kent

The Hall has been home to a priceless collection of old masters, to recuperating Australian servicemen in the First World War, and to the Ashes, which were originally a gift to the 8th Earl and stood on the Library mantelpiece until his death.

Captain JR Blackman MC, returned to Australia on 17 February 1919

HMAT A35 Berrima docked in Melbourne on 17 February 1919, with returning Australian troops and the wounded  Captain JR Blackman. In August 1914 the P.O. Berrima became an armed merchant cruiser but, after the Rabul campaign, she was paid off in October and converted to a troop transport. Berrima continued to work under the liner requisition scheme until 18 February 1917, when she struck a mine in the English Channel off Portland and was beached and later repaired. Berrima was returned to commercial service 24 March 1920, and was sold to Japanese ship breakers in September, 1939. Right: HMAT Berrmina as a troop ship. Date unknown

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Above: Capt. JR Blackman's return to Ararat: dated between his return to Melbourne on 17 February 1919 and his demob on 14 April 1919 Source: Family photograph

On 26 February 1919 George Blackman wrote to RP Touhcher(?) MLA, at State Parliament House, Melbourne seeking a refund for two first class rail tickets purchased 'in order to proceed to Melbourne to meet Captain J.R. Blackman MC. In the reply of 3 March 1917, his letter was forwarded to another department.

1821info11d, sheet 20

His grand daughter, Debbie Roberts recalls: JR and Marianne lived in a house in Collings Street, Ararat with the train line opposite. (It is likely that this is now Birdwood Avenue - General Sir William Birdwood first GOC Australian Corps, preceding Monash - JR would have approved.) He would tell us which trains were going by and after dinner in summer, we'd go the Alexandra Gardens and watch the steam trains shunting around on the turntable. JR's occupation was listed as grocer, working in the local variety store known as Cust and Scholes. He worked there before the war and returned after the war. He used to come home for lunch and when she was a 'kid' she would pop in and see him in his shop. His brother Joseph Blackman (Uncle Jo) had a shop in Ararat of his own. He was also a grocer. JR loved his garden. He used to grow veggies, and as a small child I remember helping him in the garden. He liked lawn bowls and was a staunch Methodist. I didn't know that my Pop was a war hero. He was just my Pop with a tanned and wrinkled face. Right: Post war studio portrait of JR Blackman

Footnote

The town of Ballarat published a book outlining the war service of its soldiers who appear to be linked to the trees of Ballarat's Avenue of Honour (Remembrance Drive). The following entry, an addition stapled in to the book, is attributed to Lyle A. Blackman Tree No 114. However, errors suggest that this entry could refer to Captain James R Blackman, along with the photograph (see below) attributed to Private Leslie Crompton Blackman.

• Neither Lyle nor James were killed in action and therefore should not have had a tree dedicated to them.
• The photo below shows an officers uniform.
• Lt James R Blackman was wounded on 28 June 1918 not 28 March 1918.
• In August 1918 it is likely that Lyle was in hospital having been severely wounded. His MC was not announced until 20 October 1918.

The record details:

		'Lyle A Blackman, born at Miners Rest, was a captain in the 8th Battalion. In the War he served in Egypt, Gallipoli, England and France. He was wounded on 28 March 1918 and admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, returned to duty and was wounded on a second occasion at Pozieres and admitted to the Le Treport Hospital, then again to the 3rd London General Hospital. Captain Blackman was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and devotion to duty, at Buckingham Palace in August 1918.' Quite what can be attributed to whom remains to be decided.
Above: JR Blackman

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version A.5 Updated 28 November 2009