Albert Ferguson Blackie

RankCaptain
Medals1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
RegimentHighland Light Infantry, 16th Battalion
Military Service

Albert Blackie enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders in August 1900, a month after his 21st birthday as private 7510. He had already seen service with the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. He served 12 years with the colours and left in October 1912 as a sergeant. He spent most of his time (9 ½ years) in India as the 1911 census shows.

Blackie returned from Canada in October 1914 and was commissioned into the 16th HLI on 5th November 1914 as a Second Lieutenant and was promoted Lieutenant in February 1915. He crossed with the Battalion to France at the end of November 1915. The Battalion underwent a further period of training before going into the trenches for the first time in December 1915. During May and June 1916 the Battalion went through an intensive period of training and preparation in preparation for the coming Battle of the Somme. At the Somme they were part of 97th Brigade, attacking from the south-eastern corner of Thiepval Wood, and the Brigade was to attack the German line between the Leipzig Salient and Thiepval. Their first objective was the “Wunder Werk” and they were supposed to end up at Mouquet Quarry, well over a mile away from their start point. They came under heavy machine-gun fire almost immediately and had no choice but to fall back. By the end of the day the Battalion had lost 20 officers and 534 men, four-fifths of its officers and two thirds of the men.
Blackie seems to have been allocated the post of Brigade Bombing Officer for the assault and seems to have survived unwounded.

The Battalion spent several months recovering from the mauling of the 1st July and didn’t see further serious action until the Battle of the Ancre in November 1916. The Battalion suffered heavily again but Blackie is not listed amongst the wounded.

After a relatively quiet period the battalion was in action again on 14th April 1917, part of the Battle of Arras, and gained their objectives with only light casualties. The following day the battalion continued to hold its position and was heavily shelled by the enemy resulting in Blackie being wounded.

Born

c July 1879, Glasgow

Death17th April 1917
Circumstances of Death

Died of wounds

Age37
BurialCayeux Military Cemetery, I. D. 2
CWGC Information

Son of John James and Fanny Ferguson Blackie, of 24 Hamilton Park Terrace, St. James’s St., Glasgow.

Parents

John J Blackie (c1851-1935) & Fanny Ferguson (c1851-1925)

Father's Occupation

It varied – sometimes he is described as a merchant, at other times as the manager of a chemical works and at other times as living on his own means.

Siblings

John (c1877-1936), Archibald (1878-1953), Elizabeth (1881-1976), Gourlay (b & d 1882), Agnes G (b & d 1883), Frank H (c1887-1918)

Spouse

Unmarried

Education

Unknown

Occupation

Clerk (before enlisting in Gordon Highlanders); regular soldier; employed by Hudsons Bay Company

1881 Census

24 Hamilton Park Terrace, Partick

1891 Census

Hamilton Crescent, Partick

1901 Census

Castlehill Barracks, Aberdeen [Home address 13 Hamilton Crescent, Partick]

1911 Census

Cawnpore, India

Home Address

1917 – 24 Hamilton Park Terrace, Hillhead, Glasgow

Glasgow NecropolisCompartment Omega Lair 90
Other Memorials

Scottish National War Memorial

Other Information

Albert Blackie was a member of the Blackie publishing dynasty. His father, John James Blackie, was the eldest son of John Blackie, jun who, in turn, was the eldest son of John Blackie, senr. John, jun was a partner of Blackie & Son but none of his sons seem to have been connected with the business after his death.
Blackie sailed for St John, NB in April 1913 and returned from Canada, via New York, in October 1914.

Acknowledgements and Sources

Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below.  The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry, and Find my past.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Family Search

Scotlands People

The Long, Long Trail

The Scottish War Memorials Project

16th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, War Diary November 1914 – February 1918. (TNA WO 95/2403/2)

Chalmers, Thomas (ed) A Saga of Scotland. History of the 16th Battalion the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment). 1930.

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Credits

Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.

 
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