James Colville Blackett

First Name: 
James
Middle Name: 
Colville
Last Name: 
Blackett
Mother's Name: 
Louisa (nee Reece)
Father's Name: 
Edward Blackett
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, November 9, 1914
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
13th Battalion
Company: 
A Company
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Sunday, May 2, 1915
Place of Death: 
Gallipoli
Cause of Death: 
Killed in action
Details: 

James Blackett was born in Bathurst about 1889 and moved to Scarborough with his family. At enlistment he was a single 23 year old labourer who had spent 12 months with the St Georges Rifles CMF.

He embarked on HMAT A35 Berrima from Melbourne on 22nd December 1914 with 1st Reinforcements, 13th Battalion. After training in Egypt he went with the first group of soldiers to Gallipoli. James landed with A Company on 25th April and survived those first frantic days. On the evening of Sunday 2nd May he was engaged in a charge near Dead Mans Ridge, from which he did not return. He was listed as missing on 3rd May but later declared killed in action on 2nd May.

James has no known grave and is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial. His brother George Blackett (Service No 1884) also served winning the Military Medal.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, BLACKETT J C