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 Great War 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 Football Club War Veterans, 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 |
Biography
Early Life
Joseph Arnold (Joe) Blacket was born on the 28th October 1894, the eighth of fifteen children born to Rev John Blacket and his wife Martha Jane (Pattie) Fidler. Joe was born at Koolunga, SA.
Joe’s siblings were John Wesley (b 1886), Phoebe Matilda (b 1887), Caleb Edward (b 1889), Leonard Whitefield (b 1888), Hilda Kathleen (b 1891), Ruth Fidler (b 1892), Maurice Newton (b 1893), Samuel Bertram (b 1895), Minnie Constance (b 1897), Florence Martha (b 1898), Harry (b & D 1899) Arthur Howard (b 1901), Cyril Augustine (b 1904) and Kenneth Bernard (b 1906).
Joe’s father, Rev John Blacket, was a minister in the Methodist Church and he went on to serve in thirteen Methodist circuits in South Australia, most of them in the country. His biography can be read on the Australian Dictionary of Biography at http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/blacket-john-5259. He wrote eight books of philosophy and history, most famously "History of South Australia" about the first thirty years of South Australian settlement.
Schooling
Joe Blacket along with many of his brothers and sisters entered their school work into the Northern Agricultural Society Show at Auburn. Joe was awarded various prizes for his school work in 1906-1908.
By December 1908 Joe was at school at Hindmarsh, SA when he passed the Education Department Monitors Examination. (Class II, Division B). Joe was appointed an unpaid monitor at the Hindmarsh School for 1909.
In July 1909, Joe represented the Hindmarsh School in a football match against Flinders Street School to be the curtain raiser for the West Torrens II and prospect match. Joe was named among the best players for Hindmarsh School who easily won the match.
In August 1909 Joe scored two of the six goals accumulated by Hindmarsh School when they defeated North Adelaide School.
Joe was appointed an unpaid monitor at the Hindmarsh School for 1910 and he passed the Pupil Teachers Entrance Examinations in December 1910.
From 1911 Joe attended Adelaide High School. He passed the School of Arts Examination in First Grade Plane Geometry in June 1911 and Intermediate Solid Geometry in December 1911. Joe passed six subjects (English Literature, English History, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Physics) in the Junior Public Examinations in December 1911.
Joe became a member of the AHS Cricket team in 1911 and the football team in 1912. He played in the Past versus Present scholars football match in August 1912.
In addition to his studies Joe was a teacher at the Bowden Sunday School in 1912.
Joe passed four subjects (English Literature, Modern History, Arithmetic and Algebra) in the Senior Public Examinations in December 1912.
In March 1913 Joe was promoted from Junior Teacher Second grade to Junior Teacher Third grade.
In April 1913, Joe’s father, Rev John Blacket was transferred with the Methodist Church from Hindmarsh to Sydenham Road, Norwood.
Joe was among the best players for the AHS Football team when they played the Onkaparinga Football Club at Balhannah Oval in August 1913. He scored three goals in the Past versus Present football match in September 1913.
Joe played both football and tennis for AHS against Melbourne High School in September 1913.
Joe played tennis for Sydenham Road Methodist in the 1913/14 Lawn Tennis season.
Joe passed First Grade Model Drawing in the Education Dept Art Examinations held in August 1913 and Second Grade Model Drawing in the November 1913 examinations. He also passed Trigonometry in the Senior Public Examinations in December 1913.
In March 1914 Joe was promoted from Junior Teacher third grade to Junior Teacher fourth grade. He passed the Senior Examination in Geometry and Matriculated in March 1914.
In the 1914/15 cricket season Joe played for Sydneham Road Team in the East Torrens and Eastern Suburban Association.
Football
In May 1914, Joe commenced playing B Grade football for the Norwood Football Club. His career with Norwood was spent mainly in the B Grade (Reserves – then referred to as the Juniors) however in May 1915 he played two A matches.
University
In 1915, Joe commenced studying at the University Of Adelaide. He was undertaking studies in Education and English Literature.
World War I
Joe enlisted on the 17th May 1915, aged 20 years and 9 months with Service Number 1667. He listed his mother, Martha as his next-of-kin. Joe occupation was School Teacher. He was 5’ 7¼“, 150 lbs, with a fair complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. He had been serving in the 79th Infantry (Militia) for two years prior to his enlistment.
Joe’s war service is well documented in the Virtual War Memorial Australia biography above, however it should be noted that Joe was 5’ 7¼“ tall not 5’ 14” tall.
The Adelaide High School Magazine stated “Pte. J. A. Blackett was one of the most popular boys of 1913, both in the cricket field and football field. He has gone into the Infantry.”
Further details below are from local newspapers including sections of letters written by Joe while on active service.
Joe was farewelled by members of the Sydenham Road Methodist Church. He left for the front on the 24th June 1915.
His service during WWI is well documented in Biographies on the Virtual War Memorial Australia.
Death
Joseph Arnold (Joe) Blacket was killed in action on the 10th June 1918. He was buried at Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension.
The Adelaide High School Magazine recorded the following:-
“Extract of letter from Lieutenant Edward Mattner, M.M., D.C.M., M.C. :- Once more death has claimed one of the finest lads who ever walked the floors ofA.H.S. Poor old Joey Blacket paid the supreme sacrifice on June 11, gallantly leading his men in a charge. Such noble characters as Joe one is only privileged to meet occasionally. The term 'Man' can be applied to him in every respect.
According to letters which have been received by his father, the Rev. J. Blacket, Lieutenant Joe Blacket met his death by an act of treachery. He was in charge of his own company ("D" Company, 27th Battalion), and was attacking the German lines. A German was in the act of surrendering to Lieutenant Blacket, when the former suddenly drew a revolver and shot the officer through the heart, killing him instantly. The German was not allowed to survive many seconds, and the incident caused the greatest indignation and sorrow amongst his men.
Lieut. Joseph A. Blacket, in his final year, was perhaps the most popular fellow in the School. He was a great sport - cricketer, footballer, and tennis player - and a leader always, as he is remembered as one of the big men who has passed through this School. He met his death by an act of treachery. He was in charge of his own company "D" of the 27th Battalion, when a German who was in the act of surrendering suddenly drew a revolver and shot the officer through the heart. He was quickly avenged, but that does not bring back Joe Blacket to us. He has gone "over the top" never to return, but his life's work and influence, though short in one sense, in another it will live on. The traditions not only of the School but Australia are made by such lives as Joe's.”
Author
EE (Beth) Filmer
I researched Joe Blacket as part of the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project. Joe was eligible to play football for the Adelaide University Football Club (AUFC), however he did not play for the AUFC as he was fully occupied playing League Football for the Norwood Football Club. Joe's brother John Wesley (Jack) Blacket played for both the Norwood Football Club and the AUFC.
Submitted 4 June 2025 by Eleanor Filmer
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 Perham Downs and posted for the 7th Battalion. He fought in Pelham 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.
Biography contributed
Adelaide High School Newsletter articles featuring Blacket:
Extract of letter from Lieutenant Edward Mattner, M.M., D.C.M., M.C. :-
"Once more death has claimed one of the finest lads who ever walked the floors of A.H.S. Poor old Joey Blacket paid the supreme sacrifice on June 11, gallantly leading his men in a charge. Such noble characters as Joe one is only privileged to meet occasionally. The term 'Man' can be applied to him in every respect.
Michaelmas, 1918, page 15-19
According to letters which have been received by his father, the Rev. J. Blacket, Lieutenant Joe Blacket met his death by an act of treachery. He was in charge of his own company ("D" Company, 27th Battalion), and was attacking the German lines. A German was in the act of surrendering to Lieutenant Blacket, when the former suddenly drew a revolver and shot the officer through the heart, killing him instantly. The German was not allowed to survive many seconds, and the incident caused the greatest indignation and sorrow amongst his men.
Michaelmas, 1918, page 19-25
Obituary:
Lieut. Joseph A. Blacket, in his final year, was perhaps the most popular fellow in the School. He was a great sport - cricketer, footballer, and tennis player - and a leader always, as he is remembered as one of the big men who has passed through this School. He met his death by an act of treachery. He was in charge of his own company "D" of the 27th Battalion, when a German who was in the act of surrendering suddenly drew a revolver and shot the officer through the heart. He was quickly avenged, but that does not bring back Joe Blacket to us. He has gone "over the top" never to return, but his life's work and influence, though short in one sense, in another it will live on. The traditions not only of the School but Australia are made by such lives as Joe's.
Michaelmas, 1918, page 19-25
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