BLACKWOOD, Donald Burns
| Service Number: | Chaplain |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | Franklin, Tasmania, 3 November 1884 |
| Home Town: | Deloraine, Meander Valley, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | University of Tasmania |
| Occupation: | Anglican Priest |
| Died: | Natural causes, Deloraine, Tasmania, 25 June 1967, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Hobart Roll of Honour, Tasmania (Hobart) Garden of Remembrance, University of Tasmania |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Chaplain, Australian Army Chaplains' Department | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Australian Army Chaplains' Department, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Australian Army Chaplains' Department, HMAT Euripides, Sydney |
His life as a Bishop
BLACKWOOD, DONALD BURNS (b. Geeveston, Tas, 1884, d. June 1969). Anglican clergyman and third bp of Gippsland.
Donald Blackwood was the fourth son of Archibald Blackwood, headmaster of New Norfolk School. He was educated at New Norfolk School, Christ College, Hobart, and the University of Tasmania (BA, 1906, MA, 1908). He was ordained in 1908. In 1909 he married Ida Pitt.
After serving curacies at Deloraine and Holy Trinity, Hobart, he was rector of St Helen's, Tas from 1911-13 and of Sorrell, 1913-15. He was chaplain of the AIF during World War One, serving in Egypt and France and gaining a MC. From 1920 to 1924 he was warden of St Wilfred's Theological College, Cressy, Tas which later moved to Hobart and was incorporated into a reconstituted Christ College within the University of Tasmania. He was rector of Holy Trinity, Hobart from 1924 to 1942, during which time he became a canon of St David's Cathedral in 1925 and archdeacon of Hobart in 1929.
Donald Blackwood was consecrated the third bp of Gippsland in 1942, a position he held with distinction until his retirement in 1955. On retirement he and Mrs Blackwood returned to Deloraine, where he assisted in the work of the parish of St Mark's until his death. Mrs Blackwood died in May 1976 at the age of 97 years.
In the history of the Anglican Church in Gippsland, I T Maddern stated that Bp Blackwood 'was an active, practical man and very popular with his clergy and people. One of his endearing characteristics was his tendency to ignore or to forget the trappings and status of his high office. He was interested in education.' Bp Blackwood was a keen evangelical and was very interested in the CMS, serving on various committees during most of his ordained life.
The Blackwoods had four children, Marian (known as Mary), always very interested in Christian education, Donald, holding positions in Hobart and Bell Bay; Kathleen, a medical practitioner who married the Rev Philip Taylor, who was a missionary in Iran, and later killed in a car accident at Rosedale, Victoria on 16 Oct 1967; and Graham, a member of the legal profession.
I T Maddern, Light and Life: A History of the Anglican Church in Gippsland (1977)
Submitted 1 May 2017 by Faithe Jones
Bishop of Gippsland
Bishop Blackwood Enthroned
SALE, Wednesday.-St. Paul's Cathedral, Sale (V.). was crowded today, when the Rt. Rev. D. B. Blackwood, formerly of Hobart, was enthroned as Bishop of Gippsland. The Archbishop of Melbourne (the Most Rev. J. J. Booth), Bishops Johnston (Ballarat), Riley (Bendigo), and James (St. Arnaud) wore present.
The Mercury Thursday 06 August 1942 page 2
Submitted 10 February 2016 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Bishop Blackwood Enthroned
SALE, Wednesday.-St. Paul's Cathedral, Sale (V.). was crowded today, when the Rt. Rev. D. B. Blackwood, formerly of Hobart, was enthroned as Bishop of Gippsland. The Archbishop of Melbourne (the Most Rev. J. J. Booth), Bishops Johnston (Ballarat), Riley (Bendigo), and James (St. Arnaud) wore present.
The Mercury Thursday 06 August 1942 page 2
BLACKWOOD, DONALD BURNS (b. Geeveston, Tas, 1884, d. June 1969). Anglican clergyman and third bp of Gippsland.
Donald Blackwood was the fourth son of Archibald Blackwood, headmaster of New Norfolk School. He was educated at New Norfolk School, Christ College, Hobart, and the University of Tasmania (BA, 1906, MA, 1908). He was ordained in 1908. In 1909 he married Ida Pitt.
After serving curacies at Deloraine and Holy Trinity, Hobart, he was rector of St Helen's, Tas from 1911-13 and of Sorrell, 1913-15. He was chaplain of the AIF during World War One, serving in Egypt and France and gaining a MC. From 1920 to 1924 he was warden of St Wilfred's Theological College, Cressy, Tas which later moved to Hobart and was incorporated into a reconstituted Christ College within the University of Tasmania. He was rector of Holy Trinity, Hobart from 1924 to 1942, during which time he became a canon of St David's Cathedral in 1925 and archdeacon of Hobart in 1929.
Donald Blackwood was consecrated the third bp of Gippsland in 1942, a position he held with distinction until his retirement in 1955. On retirement he and Mrs Blackwood returned to Deloraine, where he assisted in the work of the parish of St Mark's until his death. Mrs Blackwood died in May 1976 at the age of 97 years.
In the history of the Anglican Church in Gippsland, I T Maddern stated that Bp Blackwood 'was an active, practical man and very popular with his clergy and people. One of his endearing characteristics was his tendency to ignore or to forget the trappings and status of his high office. He was interested in education.' Bp Blackwood was a keen evangelical and was very interested in the CMS, serving on various committees during most of his ordained life.
The Blackwoods had four children, Marian (known as Mary), always very interested in Christian education, Donald, holding positions in Hobart and Bell Bay; Kathleen, a medical practitioner who married the Rev Philip Taylor, who was a missionary in Iran, and later killed in a car accident at Rosedale, Victoria on 16 Oct 1967; and Graham, a member of the legal profession.
I T Maddern, Light and Life: A History of the Anglican Church in Gippsland (1977)
Biography
Miltiary Cross
"For fearless devotion to duty & conspicuous gallantry during the operations near VILLER-BRETTONEUX 24/26th April 1918
Although his appointment as Senior Chaplain (C of E) to the Division permitted him to remain at Casualty Clearing Stations during operations and minister to wounded and dying outside the shelled area, this very gallant Chaplain was indefatigable in his efforts to comfort the wounded in the forward battle zone, visiting Regimental Aid Posts of the several Battalions engaged. On the second day and night of the operations he was out with burial parties well in advance of Headquarters of the front line Battalions, working throughout the night in dangerous and shelled areas.
By his cheery presence amongs the unwounded but tired troops he did a lot towards keeping up their spirits and morale, whilst his owrk amongst the wounded was invaluable."
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