Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"Archie Lindesay Black was born in 1887. His father was Henry Lindesay and his mother was Jean Fleming Myddleton. The family were from Mackay, Queensland. Before joining the 3rd Division Artillery in 1915 Archie was employed as an auctioneer. He embarked on the 11th May 1916 from Sydney on board the HMAT Argyllshire A8 and was trained in England at Lark Hill Camp on the Salisbury Plain. Archie Black then served on the Western Front in France and Belgium. He returned to Australia on the 9th March 1919 and died in 1963." - SOURCE (hdl.handle.net)

Archie Lindesay Black was born on the 18th May 1887 at Makay QLD, the second eldest son and third child born to his parents Henry and Jean Black.  He had one older sister and brother…Nellie and Frank, and 2 younger brothers...George and Hugh.  Archie’s father was the Mayor of Mackay for 3 terms and also ran a local business.  Archie’s education took place at the Convent School in Mackay.  In 1912 he was an overseer at Acacia Downs Station at Muttaburra in North Queensland then just prior to WW1, Archie and brother Frank both joined their father’s business…”Livery Stables and Horse Bazzar”. 

Archie enlisted for WW1 with the Australian Imperial Force at Rockhampton on 23rd November 1915 aged 28.  He’s described as being 5ft 11ins tall with a fair complexion, brown eyes and light brown hair.  His service number was 21166, his rank Sergeant and he was assigned to the 36th Battery of the 9th Field Artillery Brigade.  After completing his training at Enoggera Camp in Brisbane he embarked from Sydney on HMAT Argyllshire on 11th May 1916.  He disembarked at Devonport, England, on 10th July 1916 and proceeded to No. 15 Larkhill Camp on the Salisbury Plain.  In his war diaries Archie also makes mention of training at No. 2 Camp, Boyton, Codford which is near Larkhill Camp. 

In early November 1916 Archie was promoted to Battery Sergeant Major.  He had the responsibility for administration, standards and discipline, supply of ammunition, distribution of supplies such as water and food, evacuating the wounded and collecting prisoners of war.  Archie, along with the 9th Field Artillery Brigade, proceeded to France from Southampton on 31st December 1916.  A week later he transferred to the 3rd Australian Division Field Artillery then proceeded to the Australian General Base Depot at Etaples in late February 1917 before transferring to the 5th Australian Division Field Artillery in early March 1917.  In late March 1917 Archie was posted to the 54th Battery of the 14th Field Artillery Brigade and participated in heavy operations during the battles of Lagnicourt and Bullecourt in April and May respectively. 

In early May 1917 Archie transferred to the 5th Divisional Ammunition Column and while with them participated in several battles…2nd Bullecourt (May), Menin Road and Polygon Wood (September) and Passchendaele (October/November).  Archie’s youngest brother Hugh had also enlisted for WW1 in June 1915 and was serving with the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade in Belgium when he was seriously wounded in early October 1917 and evacuated to England.  Archie was granted an extension of his leave in December 1917 so he could travel to London to visit Hugh in hospital there.  Hugh did recover and was invalided back to Australia in April 1918.

Archie re-joined the Column back in France in early January 1918 then in early February he was detached for duty to the 13th Field Artillery Brigade.  In late May 1918 he proceeded to England to attend the Royal Field Artillery Cadet School.  Upon arrival in England he first attended No.2B Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery at Preston Barracks, Brighton, then proceeded to No. 2 Royal Field Artillery Officer Cadet School at Topsham Barracks, Exeter, where he was appointed Cadet.

On 2nd January 1919 Archie was appointed 2nd Lieutenant provisionally and allotted to the finance section of the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery at Heytesbury Camp.  In mid-January 1919 he was attached for duty to the AIF Headquarters, Australian Artillery Pay Corps, in London.  On 9th March 1919 Archie was promoted to Lieutenant and the same day embarked on HMT Kashmir for return to Australia.  He arrived at Melbourne on 23rd April 1919 then continued on to Brisbane by ship.  He was discharged from the service on 11th June 1919. 

Archie returned to Mackay where he became a partner in his father’s business then on 16th October 1923 he married Madge Coker.  They welcomed 2 sons…Henry in 1924 and Archie in 1929.  In 1926 when Archie Senior’s father died, he and his brother Frank continued the family business.  Archie was also a founding member of the Mackay Amateur Race Club. 

Archie passed away at Mackay on 6th June 1963 aged 76.  He was buried in the Mount Bassett Cemetery in Mackay QLD.

Archie Lindesay Black was awarded for service in WW1 the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 5th September 2023.