BLACKET, Joseph Arnold
| Service Number: | 1667 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 May 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Koolunga, South Australia, 28 August 1894 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Adelaide High School and University of Adelaide |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Morlancourt, France, 10 June 1918, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension I.F.6. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide High School Honour Board, Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Angaston Methodist Church & Sunday School WW1 Honour Board, Auburn Primary School WW1 Honor Roll, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Norwood War Memorial, Payneham Sydenham Road Methodist Church Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 17 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1667, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1667, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Kanowna embarkation_ship_number: A61 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 1667, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kanowna, Adelaide | |
| 4 Sep 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1667, 27th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 9 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 Jul 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Nov 1916: | Wounded Second Lieutenant, 1667, 27th Infantry Battalion, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, GSW (thigh) | |
| 18 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 May 1917: | Wounded Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second), 2nd occasion - GSW (clavicle) | |
| 10 Jun 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion, Merris (France), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 27 Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-06-10 |
Redlegs Museum - Norwood Football Club
Guernsey Number: 2
Career: 1915
NFC Games: 2
NFC Goals: 0
Debut: v North Adelaide (Norwood) 1st May 1915
Finale: v Sturt (Norwood) 15th May 1915
Joseph Arnold Blacket was born at Koolunga in South Australia on 28 August 1894. His parents were Reverend John and Martha Jane (nee Fidler) Blacket. He studied at Adelaide High School before attending Adelaide University prior to enlisting in the army in May 1915.
Blacket joined the Norwood Football Club in 1914 when he played several games for the B team and also lined up for Adelaide University in the Amateur League. An all round sportsman, he also played cricket for the University.
In 1915 he played two league games for Norwood. His final game was against Sturt at the Parade just two days before enlisted in the army.
On 17 May 1915 he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and embarked on 23 June 1915 for Egypt with the 27th Battalion together his brother, John Wesley Blacket. Both brothers served at Gallipoli until the evacuation, after which the battalion was sent to the western front in France. During this time, Joseph rose from corporal to first lieutenant.
Apart from time spent in English hospitals and furlough, Joseph Blacket remained on the western front until he was killed in action in France on 10 June 1918.
John Blacket was killed in action in July 1916. Two other Blacket brothers, Maurice Newton and Samuel Bertram enlisted in 1916 and both survived the war.
Source: http://www.redlegsmuseum.com.au/ON_FIELD/PLAYERS/BLACKET__Joseph1.aspx
Submitted 11 December 2015 by Nathan Rohrlach
Biography
Brother of Capt. John Wesley Blacket (/explore/people/86275) who was killed in action in Belgium on 04 Jul 1916
Joseph Arnold Blacket was born on 28 August 1897 in Koolunga, South Australia. His parents were Reverend John and Martha Jane Blacket. His religion was Methodist and he lived on Sydenham Road, Norwood, South Australia. He received an education at Adelaide High School and Adelaide University. He worked as a school teacher and played two games for the Norwood Redlegs before he went to war. These 2 games were played on May 1 and May 15 and were against North Adelaide and Sturt. Blacket was particularly sporty as he played footy at Adelaide University in the Amateur League and played cricket as well. He studied at Adelaide High School and was attending university when he enlisted. He was not only a member of the Norwood Redlegs but he was also part of the choir at the Norwood Methodist Church. On May 17 1915, he enlisted for WW1 and was a member of the 27th Infantry Battalion. He was 20 years 9 months old when he enlisted. His height was 5 feet 14 inches and his weight was 150 pounds. He had fair complexion and hair with grey eyes. Additionally, he had a chest measurement of 32.5 - 35.5 inches. Prior to enlistement, he had sufficient military experience to go to WW1 and attended the Mitcham Training Camp.
After enlisting, he embarked on the HMAT Kanowna A61 on 23 June 1915 with his battalion. He arrived in Alexandria on September 4 1915 as a Corporal and had a service number of 1667. Blacket was promoted to Sergeant on December 12 1915. Unfortunately, during that month, his battalion was evacuated due to approximately 218 deaths and 75 missing soldiers. He proceeded to join the B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) on March 16 1916. He disembarked Maxilla 5 days later after fighting for the B.E.F. Blacket was promoted again to Sergeant Major on May 9 1916. On May 5 1917, Blacket was wounded in action and suffered from a fractured clavicle. He was transported from France to Rouen where he spent a week in hospital. Then, Blacket was transferred to England to another hospital in Wandsworth. He was discharged shortly after and on July 22 1917, he went to Pham Downs and posted for the 7th Battalion. He fought in Pham Downs from July to November 1917. On December 1 1917, Blacket was transferred back to the 27th Battalion and fought in France and Belgium. On June 11 1918, he was killed in action in France. He was shot by a German officer who was being taken prisoner. Blacket spent all of the war on the Western Front except when he was recovering in hospital.
Blacket was buried at the Franvillers Communal Cemetery and Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension in France. He has a memorial at the Adelaide HR1 University of Adelaide Mitchell Building and the Angaston Methodist Honour Board WW1. There is also a monument where the Mitcham Training Camp was held in honour of all the people who fought for Australia in WW1. Blacket and all Australian soldiers will be remembered for their service in the war and their dedication to fighting for their country.
Blacket's service in the war was excellent since he contributed over a period of 3 years. His family has a history of serving in the war. His brother served in WW1 and was killed in action in Messines on July 4 1916. Additionally, he had two other brothers who were Maurice Newton and Samuel Bertram Blacket who both survived the war. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Blacket, being an ANZAC soldier, reflected the ANZAC spirit in serving in the war for his country. He fought for different troops and survived for most of the war, and showed true courage during battle. His service and dedication during the war positively reflected the ANZAC spirit. His family should also be honoured as they have fought for Australia as well.
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