BLACKWELL, Frank Mead
| Service Number: | 111 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 October 1942, Norwood, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Adelaide, SA, 25 May 1893 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Flinders Street Public School, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank Clark |
| Died: | Adelaide, 26 January 1990, aged 96 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Gilles Street Primary School WW1 Honour Roll (New), Adelaide National Australia Bank WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 111, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 111, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Port Lincoln, Adelaide |
World War 2 Service
| 31 Oct 1942: | Enlisted Norwood, SA |
|---|
Help us honour Frank Mead Blackwell's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Kathleen Bambridge
Son of William Henry BLACKWELL and Emily Sarah nee GEORGE
General Birdwood (UK) presented his Meritorious Service Medal on 6 March 1920 while visiting Adelaide.
Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Frank Mead Blackwell was born in Adelaide, South Australia on the 25th of May 1893. He resided in the city centre of Adelaide, South Australia with his mother Mrs E.T.J. Blackwell (whom he had listed as his next of kin on the Attestation Paper), and his father, William Henry Blackwell. At age 21, while working as a Bank Clerk. On the 24th of August 1914, he enlisted at Morphettville, Adelaide, South Australia and officially joined the A.I.F.
Frank Mead Blackwell had no military service and was enlisted as a private. He embarked from Port Lincoln, Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A17 on 22 October 1914. His service number was 111 and he was appointed to the 3rd Light Horse Regiment. He was deployed to Egypt, after a 4 week's voyage on the HMAT A17, where he was sent to Cairo, Egypt and was taken on strength by the 5th Infantry Battalion. The 3rd Light Horse Regiment joined the 1st and 2nd Regiments to form the 1st Light Horse Brigade.
The 1st Light Horse Brigade was sent to train at the Mena, Egypt camp on the outskirts of Cairo. He embarked to Gallipoli on the 9th of May 1915. Frank fought in the Battle of Anzac Cove (25/04/1915 - 19/05/1915 he joined on 11/05/1915), the Battle of Gully Ravine (28/06/1915 - 5/07/1915), and the Battle of the Achi Baba (12/07/1915 - 10/08/1915).
During the Battle of Gully Ravine, on the 18th of July 1915, Frank was shot in his right shoulder and was admitted to a nearby hospital. On the 28th of July 1915, he was transferred to Floriana Center Hospital, Malta. On the 29th of November, he was deemed to be unfit for active service in Malta by a medical examiner. On the 28th of May 1916, Frank embarked on the Franemia from Malta to Egypt.
On the 3rd of March 1917, Frank was posted for duty at the Australian Postal Corps in Cairo, Egypt. He was later promoted to Corporal on the 5th of January 1918 under the provisions of the A.I.F. order. Later in 1918, he was promoted again to Sergeant by the A.I.F. order.
On the 1st of January 1919, Frank was disembarked due to the Cessation of Hostilities. Then, on the 5th of January 1919, Frank was advised to return to Australia. He extended his stay in Egypt for a few more months. He was later Mentioned in Dispatches (8/8/21); The recommendation, was by the Sectary of State of War, Commander-in-Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, who submitted his name for special mention. Frank also received the Meritorious Service Award (3/11/1919) for the valuable services rendered in his time serving in Egypt.
Frank returned to Australia on the 23rd of December 1919. He received the Star Award (23/06/1920), and the British War Medal (25/04/1925) for his services in the A.I.F.
Frank married Winifred Myrtle Benson Blackwell in 1919. He died aged 97 on the 26th of January 1990 and is buried at the Centennial Park Cemetery in Pasadena, Mitcham City, South Australia, Australia.
Click images to start slideshow.