BLACKLOW, Archibald Clifford 1879–1965
-
Title
-
BLACKLOW, Archibald Clifford 1879–1965
-
Biographical text
-
Colonel Archibald Blacklow DSO VDF
(1879-1965)
Archibald Clifford Blacklow (1879-1965), soldier, pharmacist, grazier and politician, was born on 11 October 1879 at Bagdad, Tasmania into a family with long association with the military.
After being educated at Bagdad State school and The Hutchins School, Hobart he moved to Sydney to train as a pharmacist, apprenticed to his uncle. He joined the 1st Infantry Battalion, New South Wales Militia in 1899. On 17 December 1908, at St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, he married a widow Blanche Geraldine Woodforde, née Soane.
In 1909 he joined the Australian Rifle Regiment and was commissioned lieutenant; in 1913, the year of his promotion to captain, he represented Australia at the international rifle-shooting championships at Bisley, England. He was to lead the Bisley team in 1924.
On the formation of the Australian Imperial Force, Blacklow became staff officer for musketry training, 2nd Military District, until 1 April 1916 when he enlisted as captain and was soon promoted to major.
He served on the Western Front at Armentieres, Messines, Passchendaele and was mentioned in dispatches.
On 15 March 1918 he was promoted lieutenant-colonel to command the newly formed 3rd Machine-Gun Battalion, on the Somme. Blacklow was again mentioned in dispatches in May and awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 3 June.
Demobilized in May 1919, he resumed work as a pharmacist in Sydney. In 1921-24 he commanded the 34th Battalion, Australian Military Forces; this was his last appointment, though he remained on the reserve of officers until 1940.
In 1924 Blacklow gave up pharmacy and returned to Tasmania where he acquired pastoral properties at Orielton, Wattle Hill and Sorell. He took an active interest in local affairs and was district coroner and a member of the Sorell Council for many years. After contesting the Federal seat of Franklin in 1929, he won it for the United Australia Party in 1931: a firm advocate of States' rights, he strongly pressed for aid to Tasmanian primary industries, especially fruit export. After being defeated in 1934 he was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council in 1936 and held the seat of Pembroke until 1953.
He took an active part in veteran and local affairs and chaired the Committee for the building of the Sorell Memorial Hall.
During World War II he had commanded a Volunteer Defence Group; he was appointed O.B.E. in 1944.
Blacklow sold the last of his Sorell properties in 1951 and lived at Rosetta; he later lived at Richmond. Survived by his only son, he died in Hobart on 4 May 1965 and was buried in St Mark's churchyard, Pontville.
-
Family name
-
Blacklow
-
Given name
-
Archibald Clifford
-
Date of birth
-
1879
-
Birthplace
-
Bagdad
-
Gender
-
male
-
Occupation
-
Soldier, pharmacist, grazier, politician
-
Spouse of
-
Blanche Woodforde
-
Date of death
-
1965
-
Contributor
-
Peta Kelly
