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| Above: Howbury Farm 1897 said to be the source of Herbert Howbery, William's nephew's second name |
Blackman Info 8b: for Harry Blackman |
Herbert Howbery BLACKMAN, known as Bert, Harry and Sarah's second child
Herbert was born in Malvern 1886 (Vic BMD ref: 11718/1886). His great niece Kaye Smith writes:
He was my grandfather's brother. We called him "Uncle Bert" as he was my Dad's uncle and that's what Dad always called him. He didn't have any children, so in later years every Sunday he'd come to lunch with us, or another of Dad's sibling's. I remember he used to talk and talk, but as I was teenager I thought his ramblings were 'boring' and left the room. [...] He would have been a mine of information. I was told by my aunt that he was a very interesting man.
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| Above: Howbury Farm 1897 said to be the source of Herbert Howbery, William's nephew's second name |
Bert before the war
The Australian Electoral Roll from 1903-1977 records:
Embling Road has been redeveloped.
From 1913 to 1922 the Electoral Roll records, with the exception of his war service, Bert living with his parents at 44 Osborne Avenue, Malvern East.
Before the War he worked for the Post Master Generals Department at Malvern, the depot to where the letter below was addressed, as a 'Mechanic in the Engineers Branch' at the sum of £186 per annum.
| Right: A letter from Post Master General Department confirming Bert's employment as a mechanic 1 |  |
However, Bert also recorded his occupation as 'electrician' and was a member of the Australian Postal Electricians Union.
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Left: Harry Blackman's enlistment form, dated 10 November 1916, confirming his occupation as electrician 2 |
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| Above: Electrical Union declaration, made after embarkation from Australia, confirming his occupation as an electrician 3 |
Bert's war service
Bert's army service began on 10 April 1916 at the age of 29 years and 10 month in Melbourne. Initially he was allocated to 22nd Battalion, 15th Reinforcements at Royal Park Camp Melbourne, with the service number of 5543, Perhaps declaring his occupation as ' electrician' may be the reason for this being crossed out and 2nd Divisional Signals Company substituted when he was transferred in 1917. His Attestation Papers describe him as 5 feet 6 ¾ inches (170cm), weighing 120 pounds (54.4kg) and with a chest measurement of 31 inches (78.7cm) expanding by 3 inches (7.6cm). He was of medium complexion, with blue eyes and hair already changing from brown to grey and a Baptist. There were tattoos on both forearms.
| On 01 August 1916, after training at Royal Park, Bert was allocated to 'E'
Coy of 15th Reinforcements, before embarking on HMAT A9 Shropshire on 25
September 1916.He disembarked in Plymouth on 11 November 1916.
Left: HMAT A9 Shropshire |
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After being transferred from 7th Training Battery, his training continued with the 6th Training Battalion at Rolleston Camp, part of Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. 4 At various times the 5th, 6th, and 7th Australian Training Battalions, associated with the 2nd Division, were located at the Australian training camp Rolleston.
Hoverbox Photo Gallery - Old Rolleston Camp
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| Right: Map locating Rolleston Camp, Larkhill |  |
There are three forms listing his wartime activities: two Casualty Form - Active Service and a Statement of Service, which were used for movement and transfers. They contain different information.
On 22 July 1917, Bert was Taken On Strength (TOS) temporarily to 1st Anzac Wireless Section ex W'less Depot Coy GHQ from Penham Down. 6 7
On 03 June 1917, Bert entered France, presumably as a trained as a wireless operative or in wireless maintenance.
| On 26 October 1917, trained and with the engineer rank of Sapper (Spr), Bert was
transferred back to 22nd Battalion and given his old battalion number.
Right: Herbert Blackman's battalion transfer notes from his service record. 8 |
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| Above: Postcard from Bert to Les dated 09 September 1917 from
'Somewhere in France' - actually from Campagne near St Omer (War Diary)
It reads: I hope this will do for the time being, till I can get a decent one in Blighty Dont forget to send yours as soon as you get it News for your next letter Au Revoir Bert It was sent to Bom LJ Blackman Hqrs RBAA Camp No 21 Larkhill Sailsbury Plane England Left: Herbert Howbery Blackman, France 1917 Both courtesy: Kaye Smith - with thanks |
The War Diary of the 22/Battalion records Bert's movements as:
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| Above: Map of 22/Battalion's movements in Flanders from
November 1917 to March 1918 Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window |
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| Above: Bailleul trench map 28SW3 trenches correct 20 July 1918,
showing the camps visited by Bert between 15 December 1917 and 07 March 1918 with 22/Bn Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window |
Australian War Memorial images showing some of the locations mentioned in the War Diaries
| Bert appears to have remained with the 22/Battalion until Saturday 23 March 1918, when
he was taken on strength of 2nd Australian Divisional Signal Company (2/ADSC) again as a
Sapper. He remained on strength until after the Armistice.
In March 1918 Headquarters 2/ADSC was at RAVELSBERG S.15.d.10.10. 14th Area Office was based
at Kemmel. Manned panel points were located at Hyde Park (Ploegsteert), St Yves and Oosthove
Farm.
For communication the unit had dispatch motor cycle, ten pigeons, messenger dogs, ten wireless stations and power buzzers. Right: 2/ADSC shoulder patch |
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Hoverbox Photo Gallery - 2/ADSC message methods
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A War Diary diagram shows 2/ADSC being responsible for artillery communications between six groups of 2/Division's artillery and five 2/Division battalion infantry groups across the front in 2/Divisional area. As the 2/Division's battalions attacked, 2/ADSC advanced behind the attack to establish communications: exchanges and telephone lines from the guns to the HQs of attacking battalion. When there was no attack, 2/ADSC maintained the lines to and from the Divisional HQ or were at rest, maintaining equipment, training or at recreation. The War Diary records:
2/ADSC in the field
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| Above: Doingt Camp September 1918 from 44/Battalion War Diary |
The War Diary continues:
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| Above: Map of 2/ADSC's movements on the Somme from
April to November 1918 Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window |
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| Above: Map of 2/ADSC's movements from the Armistice
to NME Click on the map to open a scalable pdf map in a new window |
An application to join the Non-Military Employment (NME) 1 scheme was supported by the recommendation of the CO 2 Div Sig Co. His Casualty Form - Active Service - Army Form B.103 records:
Bert was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. It appears his Victory medal was posted to Postmaster Malvern and retuned on 10.5.23
On his AIF Demobilisation Form 534, when asked what other occupation he proposed to follow, he answered 'Electrical work'. Bert was discharge from 2nd Division Signal Company as Sapper 5543, on 04 December 1919. The Electoral Roll records Bert's demobilisation from Royal Park, Melbourne.
Post-war and married life
Bert married Ruth Elanor GILSEMAN, (Vic BMD ref: 3271/1930). Ruth was born 21 March 1891 (Vic BMD ref: 10689/1891) to Richard Ernest mother Harriet Eliza, father unknown.
They didn't have any children, but possibly adopted a sister's child. He was a very interesting fellow with telephones all over the house in Osborne Ave. The house was full of stuff including his old radio equipment, which he was into in a big way, and which he ended up donating to the Radio Institute.
His wartime experience may have accounted for the multitude of telephones.
The Electoral Roll shows that from 1922 to 1928 he was living at home:
with the 1924 census recording Herbert's occupation as an electrician, living at Osborne Ave.
| Apart from 1927 and 1928, for some reason Stanley Ernest is recorded twice in each
year, with different occupations,
Left: The much altered 44 Osborne Road |
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| In 1924, Ruth was a Registered Midwife at the Woman's Hospital Reg. No.3311. (Now The Royal Woman's Hospital).
From their marriage in 1930 to Ruth's death in 1967 the couple lived at 14 Closter Avenue, now Ashwood, on a Electoral Roll with a very low number, suggesting a small local population. Bert is always recorded as being a mechanic by occupation. Right: Herbert Blackman on 26 February 1934 at the time of his parents golden wedding |
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The Electoral Roll from 1931 to 1967 shows the family at:
After Ruth's death Bert remained alone at Closter Avenue.
| Right: 14 Closter Avenue, Bert and Ruth's home for the whole of their marriage |  |
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Left: Herbert Howbery Blackman in the garden of Kaye Smith, his great niece at 18 Barina Road, circa 1970 |
Ruth died on 03 September 1967 (Vic BMD ref: 19556/1967) and was cremated at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale on 05 September 1967, where there is a plaque on a wall. Bert died on 18 March 1970 (Vic BMD ref: 9490/1970) and was cremated in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale two days later.
End notes:
Sources:
| More information 1 |
 | Non-Military Employment (NME)
The NME scheme was set up in England as part of the repatriation process to provide soldiers with civilian skills that they could use on their return to Australia. Bert was seconded with full military pay and 6/- (30p) per day subsistence. He would be issued with a suit the value of £2 5 shillings 6 pence (£2.27½); overalls valued at 14 shillings 11 pence (75p) and a cap at 3/- (15p), and was given rail warrants to and from Southampton and London. General Sir Brudenell White, the AIF Chief of Staff, who presided over the Demobilisation and Repatriation Branch, admired Canada's education programme for soldiers long before the armistice. White recruited George Merrick Long, the Anglican Bishop of Bathurst, to run the AIF's education programme. Since May 1918, Long had been reviewing other armies' education schemes, researching the future Australian labour market and talking to troops about what type of training they wanted. Together with an academic staff, he formulated a wide-ranging programme offering the men educational and work experience options in the UK, other parts of Europe and America. There were three main strands of training: professional, for those seeking university degrees and a professional career; technical, for those wishing to learn a trade; and general, for improving basic literacy and numeracy skills. To do this, he needed the co-operation of the British education system, trade unions, leaders of industry and the people of Britain. Such help was not always forthcoming. In any case, only one in three men took up the offer of education and training. Many had never had a job, had little idea about preparing themselves for one and believed that they should wait until they were home and had a sense of the career options available in Australia before they underwent training. Source: Davies, Will, In the footsteps of Private Lynch, Bantam, London 2010 p.282 |
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| This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass |
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Version A7 Updated 12 October 2023 |
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