Arthur Seaforth Blackburn

Arthur Seaforth Blackburn
Captain A. S. Blackburn c.1919
Born	(1892-11-25)25 November 1892 Woodville, South Australia
Died	24 November 1960(1960-11-24) (aged 67) Crafers, South Australia
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Australian Army
Years of service	1914–17 1924–46
Rank	Brigadier
Commands held	Black Force 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion
Battles/wars	First World War Gallipoli Campaign Landing at Anzac Cove Western Front Battle of the Somme Battle of Pozières Second World War North African Campaign Syria-Lebanon Campaign Dutch East Indies campaign
Awards	Victoria Cross Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Commander of the Order of the British Empire Efficiency Decoration
Other work	Commissioner in the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration

First World War

Second World War

Brigadier Arthur Seaforth Blackburn, VC, CMG, CBE, ED (25 November 1892 – 24 November 1960) was a South Australian soldier, lawyer, politician, and an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Blackburn was born on 25 November 1892 at Woodville, South Australia. His parents were the cleric and entomologist Thomas Blackburn and his wife Margaret Harriette Stewart, née Browne. He was educated at Pulteney Grammar School, the Collegiate School of St Peter and the University of Adelaide (LL.B., 1913).

In 1914, Private Blackburn, a 21-year-old lawyer from Adelaide, was among the first to enlist in the "Fighting 10th" Battalion, and as a battalion scout he was among the first to land at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915. Australia's official First World War historian, Charles Bean, noted that Blackburn, with Lance Corporal Robin, probably made it further inland than any other Australian soldiers "whose movements are known". Blackburn was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Gallipoli in August 1915, and served there for almost the entire campaign.