Reginald McGregor Blackman ¹

   Cause of his death was Drowned?.

  Medical Notes:

On 12 May 1943 the Centaur sailed unescorted from Sydney at 0945 hours carrying her crew and normal staff, as well as stores and equipment of the 2/12th Field Ambulance but no patients. It was sunk without warning by a torpedo from a Japanese submarine on 14 May 1943 at approximately 0400 hours, its position being approximately 27°17' S, 153°58' E about 50 miles east north-east of Brisbane. The wreck was discovered in 1995.
Of the 332 persons on board, only 64 survived. These survivors spent 35 hours on rafts before being rescued. Sister Ellen Savage, the only one of twelve nursing sisters on board to survive, though injured herself, gave great help to the other survivors and was awarded the George Medal for this work.

  Noted events in his life were:

• He served in the military 2/12 FIELD AMBULANCE before 14 May 1943. NX47999 Pte Blackman R McG.

Reginald married Margaret Helen Smith on 14 May 1938 in Walgett, Baradine County, New South Wales, Australia.^{1 2} (Margaret Helen Smith was born before 1923 and died on 13 Jun 1959 in <Australia> ¹.)