Percy Edward BLACKWOOD

Per his military service record (Depot), Percy Edward Blackwood was born at South Melbourne, Victoria. He gave his age as 29 years, his marital status as single, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his medical was height 5 feet 10 inches tall, weight 154 lbs., with a dark complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed that he had no previous military service. He completed his medical on Wellington on 27^th October 1915, then made his way to catch up with the Coo-ees at Bathurst, where he was attested by Captain Eade at Bathurst on 28^th October 1915.

The National Advocate named Percy Edward Blackwood as one of those who responded to the call made by the Coo-ees for more recruits at Bathurst.[1]

After completing the march he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 5^th Depot Battalion.

On 17^th November 1915 Private Blackwood went before a Medical Board where he was deemed as unfit for military service due to deficient teeth. Private Blackwood was discharged medically unfit on 29^th November 1915.

Percy Blackwood re-enlisted in the AIF on 21^st December 1915 at Casula, N.S.W. He was attested at Casula on 23^rd December 1915, and assigned to Depot Battalion.

He was allocated as a reinforcement for the 20^th Battalion on 20^th January 1916.

On 5^th February 1916 Private Blackwood was charged with being absent without leave from 2^nd to the 5^th February 1916. He was fined 4 days pay.

On 19^th March 1916 Private Blackwood was charged with being absent without leave from 17^th to 19^th March 1916. He was fined 3 days pay.

On 4^th April 1916 Private Blackwood was charged with being drunk and absent without leave on 3^rd April 1916 in George Street, Sydney. He was charged and fined 10 Shillings, and his Commanding Officer also recommended he be discharged. On 6^th April 1916 Private Blackwood was discharged services no longer required.

Percy Blackwood re-enlisted in the AIF again on 26^th October 1916 at Dubbo, N.S.W. He was assigned to Dubbo Depot Battalion until 3^rd November 1916, when he was transferred to Liverpool. He was allocated as a reinforcement for the 3rd Battalion.

On his embarkation roll his address at the time of his subsequent enrolment was P.O., Cobar, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his father, J. Blackwood, Montague Street, South Melbourne.

Private Blackwood (regimental no. 6957) departed Sydney on the HMAT A24 Benalla on 9^th November 1916, with the 23^rd reinforcements for the 3^rd Battalion.

On 8^th December 1916 he was charged with being absent without leave for 6 hours on the 4^th of December 1916 at sea on the A24 Benalla troopship. He was fined 3 days pay.

Private Blackwood disembarked at Devonport, England, on 9^th January 1917.

He was sent to the 1^st Training Battalion at Lark Hill, England.

On 27^th February 1917 Private Blackwood was charged with failing to answer defaulter’s parade on 17^th February, 24^th February, and 25^th February 1917. He was awarded 7 days field punishment number 2.

On 15^th March 1917 Private Blackwood was charged with being absent without leave from Tattoo on 10^th March till 1700 on 11^th March 1917. He was awarded 6 days field punishment number 2 and fined 11 days pay

On 5^th May 1917 he was charged with being absent from Headquarters fatigue from 1430 till 2200 on 4^th May 1917. He was awarded 1 day field punishment number 2, and forfeited 2 days pay.

On22^nd May 1917 Private Blackwood departed Folkestone, England, bound for France.

On 10^th June 1917 Private Blackwood was taken on strength of the 3^rd Battalion when it was resting at Buire, France.

On 16^th August 1917 Private Blackwood was charged with being absent without leave from 2100 on 12^th August 1917 till 1830 on 13^th August 1917. He was awarded 7 days field punishment number 2 and fined 9 days pay.

On 18^th January 1918 Private Blackwood was charged with being absent without leave from 1200 on 31^st December 1917 till he surrendered himself to the NCO in charge of the Bailleul Town Guard at 0640 on 1^st January 1918. He was fined 12 days pay.

On 7^th February 1918 Private Blackwood went on leave to England.

On 19^th April 1918 Private Blackwood went before a Field General Court Martial charged with being absent without leave over furlough, from 0730 on 22^nd February 1918 till apprehended by the Civil Police in London on 15^th March 1918. He was also charged with being absent without leave from 9 a.m. on 12^th April 1918 to 10 a.m. on 13^th April 1918. He was awarded 90 days field punishment number 2 and fined 110 days pay.

On 30^th July 1918 Private Blackwood went before a Field General Court Martial charged with desertion while on active service. He had been absent without leave from 2 p.m. on 12^th July 1918 to 6.30 pm on 20^th July 1918. He was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years penal servitude. He was sent to the Number 7 Military Prison at Calais, France.

On 5^th October 1918 Private Blackwood’s sentence was commuted to 2 years in prison.

On 24^th March 1919 Private Blackwood went before a Field General Court Martial charged with joining in a mutiny at the Number 7 Military Prison by ‘continuing … not to fall in after having been warned by proper authorities’. He was found guilty and sentenced to 11 years penal servitude.

On 18^th April 1919 Private Blackwood was transferred to Portland Convict Prison in England.

On 9th September 1919 Private Blackwood departed England aboard the H.T. Raranga.

He arrived in Australia on 29^th October 1919, and was discharged services no longer required on 30^th October 1919.

[1] ‘The response : 21 volunteers from Bathurst’, National Advocate, 29 October 1915, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158157113