Corporal Ernest Blackman Royal Signals
The Man Little detail is known about Ernest Blackman, known as Jim or Jumbo, except he was born on 2nd November 1911 at 106 Woolmer Road, Nottingham, Son on Henry, a Railway Engine Driver for London, Midland & Scottish Railways, and Martha Jane nee Townshend. He was one of five children, William Henry born in 1907, Edith Mary 1907, Daisy 1909 and Maisie 1916. During the last quarter of 1935 Jim married Mabel Irene F Shaw, known as Rene, in Nottingham and on 29th May 1940 began working for the General Post Office in Nottingham. Jim enlisted into the Territorial Army Royal Signals with service number 2583263 and was promoted to Corporal. During World War II he saw service in the Far East and awarded the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’. By 1960 Jim was living with Rene at 10 Spinney Close, West Bridgeford in Nottingham and in 1969 aged 57 retired from the Post Office as a Senior Technician and awarded the Imperial Service Medal. Jim died during the first quarter of 1984 in Rushcliffe Nottinghamshire.
The Story The medal group awarded to Ernest Blackman were acquired from E-Bay on 16th September 2014 and were of interest because of the double long service combination, and the slightly unusual surname, and the possibility he may have been connected to another Blackman within the collection. A search of Ancestry.com and London Gazette enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, but alas, no link could be found with the other Blackman group. Contact was however made with Ernest’s Sister’s (Daisy), Daugther’s husband via Ancestry.UK, who kindly located some photographs of Ernest, thus putting the all-important face to The Man behind his Medals, but sadly no further biographical detail.
Medal Details:
- 1949-45 Star: Unnamed as issued.
- Burma Star: Unnamed as issued.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as issued
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as issued
- Efficiency Medal: 2583263 CPL E BLACKMAN R SIGS.
- Imperial Service Medal: ERNEST BLACKMAN
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This page last updated 1 Nov 14