BLACKSHAW, Raymond Bruce
| Service Number: | NX49781 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 October 1941, Paddington, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Infantry Training Battalions |
| Born: | Erskineville, New South Wales, Australia , 30 July 1920 |
| Home Town: | Newtown (NSW), Inner West, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Accidental (Drowning), Macquarie River, Dubbo, NSW, Australia, 18 February 1942, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Dubbo General Cemetery, NSW C of E 2408, Dubbo General Cemetery, Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, NX49781 | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Private, NX49781, 2nd/5th Infantry Battalion , Paddington, NSW | |
| 28 Oct 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX49781, Infantry Training Battalions |
Help us honour Raymond Bruce Blackshaw's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Gordon Reginald and Grace Kathleen Blackshaw, of Goulburn.
Dubbo Soldier Drowned
DUBO. Friday.
Raymond Bruce Blackshaw (21) a soldiers from the Dubbo military camp was drowned in the Macquarie River close to Dubbo on Wednesday night midway between the camp and the town. No one knew of the tragedy until some time afterwards when he was missed. He had been out with a party marching on night manoeuvres and it is assumed that he wandered near the bank and slipped into the stream. Rain was falling steadily and visibility was very poor. Searching and dragging operations were begun with every possible speed and soldiers from the camp were assisted by the police and Sergeant Tracker Alick Riley, a member of the soldier party discovered the body on Thursday afternoon in a hole in the river containing about 8ft. of water. It was fully dressed It is thought that deceased might have been unable to swim or that in the event of being able to swim he was weighed down by his war equipment. The coroner (Mr. I B. Mackenzie) viewed the body and an inquest will be held.
FULL MILITARY FUNERAL
FOR DROWNING VICTIM
A party of 400 officers and men from a unit at the Dubbo camp yesterday afternoon marched from the Dubbo District Hospital to the cemetery for the funeral Of Private Raymond Bruce Blackshaw (21).
The soldier was drowned while his unit was engaged in A.I.F. exercises along the Macquarie River on Wednesday night. The deceased resided at Goulburn but his parents were unable to reach Dubbo in time for the funeral. It, is said by come of his friends at the camp that he was recently married. The casket was covered by a Union Jack and the troops marched to the graveside where the Church of England padre at the camp (Capt. A. J. Grace) conducted an impressive service. Six soldier friends acted as pallbearers.
Funeral arrangements were made by Major S. Mattick and Captain C. K. Rutherford. W. Larcombe & Son conducted the funeral.