| Harvey Stanley Hyde Blackburn | |
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| 30 November 1876 - October 1967 | |
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| Nickname | The Shadow |
| Place of birth | New South Wales |
| Place of death | Sydney |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Rank | Company Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class 2 |
| Unit | Second Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen Boer War and Railway World War I |
| Other work | Tasmanian Railway Locomotive Driver |
Harvey Stanley Hyde Blackburn (30 November 1876 - October 1967) is an infamous member of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) who during World War I managed to fool medical staff at the time of his voluntary enlistment so that they did not observe his artificial left foot which he had lost only a short time earlier. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1876 ( MDCCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year October events and holidays Children's Book Week ( England) - First Week of October National Day ( China People's Republic Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. See also First Boer War,, South African Wars (1879-1915 The Second Boer War ( Dutch: Tweede Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans: World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1876 ( MDCCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. The Australian Imperial Force (AIF was the name given to two all- Volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All
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Joining the army as an amputee
Whilst thousands of Australians returned from World War I as amputees, Blackburn may have been the only man to hobble off to World War I in 1917 with an artificial partial left leg and left foot after he pulled of an audacious enlisting deception with a “one chance in a million” ruse, tricking his doctor and passing the military medical as fit for duty. Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
Background
Born in Central New South Wales on 30 November 1876, Blackburn moved to and lived in New Zealand before moving back to Sydney. Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1876 ( MDCCCLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year He embarked for war from Melbourne on the troop transport ship A 9. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 HMAT Shropshire 11 May 1917, as Company Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class 2 with the Railway Unit, and Reinforcements and Special Draft (February 1917 - October 1918). Events 330 - Byzantium is renamed ''Nova Roma'' during a dedication ceremony but is more popularly referred to as Constantinople Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year A Sergeant Major is a rank or appointment in many militaries around the world A Warrant Officer ( WO) is a member of a military organization holding one of a specific group of ranks. Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
A veteran of the Boer War where Blackburn served as a Private with 4 (2 Imperial Bushmen) Contingent from Tasmania. See also First Boer War,, South African Wars (1879-1915 The Second Boer War ( Dutch: Tweede Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans: Tasmania is an Australian island and state of the same name It is located south of the eastern side of the Continent, being separated from it by Bass Tasmanians served mainly in mounted units, often known as “Mounted Rifles”, “Bushmen” or “Imperial Bushmen”. They fought in both the British counter offensive of 1900 and in the long, weary guerrilla phases of the war lasting until 1902. After serving in South Africa Blackburn requested a transfer to Officer’s school, however he was unsuccessful and advised to wait till required. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa
Injury
Blackburn was called-up for service in February 1915; however he was involved in a railway accident before joining his camp leading to 18 months in hospital. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The accident occurred when Blackburn, an engine driver with the Tasmanian Railways, got out of his moving train to inspect the track and slipped under the carriage. Six operations and the amputation of his left foot resulted.
Blackburn was fitted with an artificial limb below the knee with a hinged wooden foot. The prosthetic device was made from an unspecific wood, leather, and metal and was made by ‘Simpson & Son’ Melbourne. In Medicine, a prosthesis (plural prostheses) is an Artificial extension that replaces a missing Body part. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3
Blackburn subsequently took some time off to recover and adjust to life on one leg before returning to the 1st AIF. During this recovery time he received several communications from military authorities requesting him to present at camp. He wrote back and explained that he was recuperating and reaffirmed his willingness to serve.
At this time the Railway Units were formed to which Blackburn applied. Both his railway and South Africa experience made him an ideal candidate according to the officer in charge. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa He was told to present for a medical checkup at camp. The Boer War veteran knew an amputee wouldn’t be accepted for army service so he fooled a Doctor at the enlistment centre into passing him fit. See also First Boer War,, South African Wars (1879-1915 The Second Boer War ( Dutch: Tweede Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans: Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or Surgery.
The Ruse
Before he died at the age of 90 in 1967 Blackburn told how he fooled the Doctor with a “one in a million” ruse. Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Claiming he was “shy” he asked the Doctor to turn around while he took his pants off. “I slipped my trousers across my artificial limb, and showed the Doctor my good right leg” he said. Baring only his good leg Blackburn proceeded to distract the Doctor with questions for several minutes before reminding him to check the other leg, then presented the same leg again keeping the artificial leg covered and slightly under the table behind him. “Lucky for me he did not realise that he had examined the same leg again, he told me I was in perfect shape. ”
The ruse was almost successful, until another Doctor walked in and saw what he was doing. An argument resulted with the second Doctor stating that Blackburn was useless. Blackburn responded that if the doctor had been more observant he would have noticed that the leg was clearly evident on his attestation papers. He also pointed out the railway officer’s testimony and argued that he was perfect for the front line because he couldn’t retreat as quickly as the others and would be forced to stay with his locomotive and hold his ground. A locomotive is a railway Vehicle that provides the motive power for a Train. The Doctors made Blackburn remove his trousers and walk around the room. The first Doctor said he would pass fit a thousand men like Blackburn and he enlisted on 10 January 1917 with an A1 rating. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. Year 1917 ( MCMXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
Service
In service in France and Belgium Blackburn hid his disability from his superiors, only his tent mates knew of his secret. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those He proudly stated that he never missed a parade or route march and his drill instructors never realised the extent of his disability, assuming he was suffering from a corn.
As a steam locomotive engine driver taking supplies to the front, the tall dark man dubbed “the shadow” by his mates managed to keep marching to a minimum. A steam locomotive is a Locomotive powered by Steam. The term usually refers to its use on Railways but can also refer to a "road locomotive" He was a Sergeant-Major with the 4th Broad Gauge Rail Operation Company, assigning himself special duties during six later medical parades. Broad gauge Railways use a Rail gauge (distance between the rails greater than the Standard gauge of.
Blackburn drove locomotive engines around Peronne and in Flanders without misfortune. A locomotive is a railway Vehicle that provides the motive power for a Train. Flanders (Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern is a geographical region located in parts of present day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. However, Blackburn did experience some problems with his leg during the cold winter months experiencing severe numbing. The cold conditions caused his calf to shrink from 16 to 9 inches.
Post War
After the 1918 Armistice Blackburn knew exactly how to get onto one of the first ships while the rest waited. Year 1918 ( MCMXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common An armistice is a situation where the warring parties agree to stop fighting He told his officers his leg hurt him and asked for leave to visit London to have a fitting for a new artificial leg. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.
After returning to Australia Blackburn received a new leg with a better fit and donated the original to the Australian War Memorial in 1925. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Australian War Memorial is Australia 's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He maintained that his was the only artificial leg accepted for service in the AIF, and possibly the entire Allied Forces. In general allies are people groups or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose Having returned to Australia Blackburn resumed his work with the Tasmanian Railway Department. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics.
World War II
He loved army life so much that he tried to enlist again in 1942 for World War II, aged 66. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including But to his displeasure he was passed unfit for service on age and medical grounds.
Death
Harvey Stanley Hyde Blackburn died in Sydney on October 1967, a few months after his 90th birthday. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 October events and holidays Children's Book Week ( England) - First Week of October National Day ( China People's Republic Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. He is buried in Botany Bay cemetery. Botany Bay is a bay in Sydney, New South Wales, a few kilometres south of the Sydney central business district. Harvey donated his wooden leg to the Australian War Memorial, Canberra where it can sometimes be seen on display. The Australian War Memorial is Australia 's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated Canberra ( is the capital city of Australia With a population of over 340000 it is Australia's largest inland City.
External links
- Digger History: an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Services
- Australian War Memorial
- Tasmanians in the Boer War
- Péronne, France
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