Most of the South African War service records for soldiers in this database have now been digitised and are available by searching the Archives New Zealand Archway website.
A brief history of Edwin West Blackwell’s life is as follows.
Edwin was born in on his parent's bush farm at Brookby, near Auckland, 1882 to a British Army veteran (honourably discharged) of the Maori Wars in the 1840's (Richard Blackwell, Reg.No. 2271, 58th Light Regiment of Foot) and his wife Margaret, born in Epsom to Irish immigrants John and Jane McQuoid in 1843. Edwin kept his dad's campaign medal, awarded in 1860, and Edwin proudly wore the medal in ANZAC parades in an Auckland visit and probably in Sydney too. It has been passed down to a great nephew in Tauranga, New Zealand.
Edwin became a carpenter in Auckland in the 1890's and served in the Devonport (north Auckland suburb) "A" Battery volunteers under a Major Hazard. At 20 years of age, (1902) Edwin served in South African War of 1899-1902 (Boer War), Regimental Number 5323. North Island Regiment – C Squadron, Private, Eighth Contingent.
Edwin spent some time back home in Auckland but got itchy feet and travelled through the Islands. He was in Sydney when WWI broke out, so joined up with the Australian Field Artillery Brigade, 1 Brigade Ammunition Column 1914-1918 Australian Commonwealth Military Forces. as a driver. He served at Gallipoli, Egypt and France, and returned to Sydney uninjured after the war. He was married to MARGARET ANN GRANT (b. Aug 28 1884; Cooma, New South Wales, Australia. d. Dec 7 1976; Queensland, Australia.) for 36 years, from 1918 until his death in 1954 aged 72 years.
He was also a former member and trustee of the Tobruck North Bondi sub-branch of the RSL until 1954 (passed away aged 72yrs).
"...FUNERALS_ BLACKWELL -The Relatives and Frends of the late EDWIN WEST BLACKWELL of 54 Fletcher Street Bondi are Invited to attend his Funeral to leave Walter Carters Chapel Oxford Street Waverley This...Sub Branch RSL and Tobruk House RSL Club are invited to attend the Funeral of their respected Member and Trustee EDWIN WEST BLACKWELL For further particulars see family notice _K HURST Secretary BLAKE..."
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