Black, Herbert Cecil

2631a Lance Corporal Herbert Cecil Black - 48th Battalion AIF

Herbert Cecil Black was born in Fremantle on the 18th April 1897 to Edwin and Lucy Black. He was one of six children, with Edwin (1895), George (1899), Elise (1900), Liola (1904) and Rubina (1910).

The family had lived in North Fremantle but then moved to Cottesloe, residing at Keane Street. Herbert would be educated at Scotch College Claremont. Herbert served in the 87A Cadets, based out of the Claremont Drill Hall and he also served in the Naval Cadets in Fremantle.

After leaving school, Herbert took up work as a Clerk.

On the 15th May 1916 Herbert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, and the medical examiner recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 9 & 3/4 inches tall;

Weight - 124lbs;

Chest Measurement - 30-34 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Fair.

Upon his successful enlistment, Herbert was sent to Belmont Park Camp and had a month in the No.67 training depot. He was then assigned to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion. Herbert spent the next ten weeks training with this group but on the 5th September 1916 was transferred to the 6th Reinforcements to the 48th Battalion. He then spent another eight weeks training with this group.

On the 30th October 1916 Herbert and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship Port Melbourne. After the long sea voyage they disembarked at Devonport Harbour on the 28th December 1916.

After being disembarked the Herbert and his group were sent to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Bert had the next five weeks training in England and on the 4th February 1917 was sent to France. He then had a few more days at the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples and was taken on strength of the 48th Battalion on the 10th February 1917.

The 48th Battalion were then situated on the Somme battlefield undergoing a very cold and muddy French winter. Herb spent the next few weeks with his unit near Stormy Trench and Flers. However the Germans soon began their planned withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australians and British units pressed the German withdrawal and several sharp actions were fought around what was known as the Outpost Line villages.

Herbert's unit were tasked with the capture of Bullecourt on 11th April 1917. The 4th and 12th Briges of the 4th Division, which included Bert's 48th battalion, were tasking with capturing the German trenches OG1 and OG2.

With no artillery support and aided just by a few tanks, the 46th and 48th Battalions managed to get into the German lines and capture a portion of OG1 and OG2. However with no protection on their flanks and no artillery support, the men were soon surrounded and the survivors had to withdraw under a very heavy German fire.

Herbert was one of the lucky few in not being wounded, taken prisoner or killed as casualties in the 48th Battalion had been very heavy.

There was not much rest for Herbert and his unit as after a few weeks they were sent to Belgium to take part in the Battle of Messines. From June to August 1917 the 48th Battalion served on this front and again Bert came through safely.

In September 1917 the 48th Battalion were moved up the line to Ypres in Belgium where they were to take part in the current offensive operations taking place. They saw action at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke and Passchendaele. During the 12th October 1917 action at Passchendaele Herbert was wounded in the hands by shrapnel.

He was evacuated to the 4th New Zealand Field Ambulance and from there was evacuated to the 14th Stationary Hospital in the French town of Boulogne.  Fortunately the wound was not severe and after three days he was released and sent to the 1st Convalescent Depot.

On the 19th October 1917 Herbert was transferred into the 4th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. He spent a month there and then rejoined the 48th Battalion on the 27th November 1917.

As a result of the British offensive at Cambrai and the German counter attack, the 4th Australian Division were moved to Peronne to be in reserve if needed. However they remained at Peronne for a month and then returned to Belgium in January 1918.

The 48th Battalion would spend January to March 1918 helping to hold the line in Belgium between Ypres and Messines.

From the 9th to 26th February 1918 Herbert was granted a two week furlough to England.

On March 21st 1918 the Germans launched their large Spring Offensive to the south in France which broke through the British lines. The Australian Divisions were sent south to help stop the German advance. 

The 48th Battalion was at Dernancourt in late March and early April 1918 and with other units of the 12th and 13th Brigades, helped to stop the German advance. Casualties were heavy but Herbert came through unhurt.

They were then sent to the Villers-Bretonneux front where they saw heavy action at Monument Wood on 3rd May 1918. Herbert and his unit remained around Villers-Bretonneux for the next two months

In July 1918 Herbert was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal.

Herbert then participated in the 8th August 1918 advance from the Villers Bretonneux front which broke through the Germans lines. Herbert was in action with his unit from August 8th to August 31st 1918. 

He was then detached to the 4th Army School for a period of instruction, returning to the 48th battalion on the 23rd September 1918.

Herbert thus missed the September 18th action at Le Verguier which was the 48th Battalion's last action in the war. They were then pulled out of the line for a rest period and the Armistice was announced before they could return to the front.

Once the Germans surrendered and pulled back to their own borders, the Australian divisions were sent to what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France.

Herbert spent the next few months with the 48th Battalion during which time he had periods of leave to see Paris and Brussels.

On the 15th April 1919 Herbert left France and was sent to England to await his transport ship home.

On the 1st June 1919 Bert boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.

Herbert was discharged from the AIF on the 16th August 1919.

On his return, Herbert took up residence in Keane Street Cottesloe and resumed work as a Clerk. He then went to Newdegate to take up farming.

Herbert Cecil Black died on the 22nd July 1980 aged 83. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery and his ashes placed into the family grave at plot Presbyterian HA 0685.