Diaries of Archie Black

Lieutenant Archie Lindesay Black, 9th & 14th Field Artillery Brigades

Archie Black was one of the 25 collections featured in the State Library of Queensland's Distant Lines Exhibition, which commemorated the lives and stories of Queenslanders who served in the First World War.

The Black Family were well known in Mackay, Archie's father Henry co-established the Mackay Horse Bazaar and was appointed Mayor in 1888.

Archie and his brother Hugh enlisted in 1915 and served in France in separate Artillery Brigades. In 1912, before joining his father's agency, Archie had been an overseer at Acacia Downs Station, Muttaburra, North Queensland.

Archie Black's collection was donated to the State Library of Queensland by his descendants in 2014. It comprises two diaries the first of which covers May to November 1916, the second November 1917 to July 1918, several group photographs of Artillery Brigades, a portrait of Archie in uniform, as well as images of Artillery Sports at Enoggera Training Camp.

They trained in England, honing their skills, firing and manoeuvring the horses-drawn guns, cleaning stables, working and caring for their horses, often in wet and cold conditions, while they waited to be deployed on the front lines, in France.

Archie Black's diaries are the highlight of the collection, detailing the mundane but giving the reader more than a century later, a potted view of his life as a Battery Sergeant Major - inspections, church parades, sports days and weather reports.

The first diary, May to November 1916, describes leaving Sydney on HMAT Argyllshire, the voyage to England, and training at Boyton Camp, Codford, England.

Archie's role meant he was responsible for administration, standards and discipline, supply of ammunition, distribution of supplies such as water and food, evacuating the wounded and collecting prisoners of war.

Not all of Archie's time was spent in camp; like many Australians serving overseas, he explored many of the great sights of London and southern England, including Stonehenge and historic villages located nearby.

Archie was transferred to the 14th Field Artillery Brigade in 1917, then involved in heavy operations in France. The Brigade participated in the Battles of Lagnicourt in April, Bullecourt in May, and Third Ypres in September and October.

This photographic postcard is of trainees at the 2nd Royal Field Artillery Officer Cadet School, in Topsham, Exeter, where Archie graduated from in July 1918. It is signed on the rear by the 26 men who are depicted.

Archie was fortunate not to be wounded or hospitalised during his time in France, his brother Hugh was not so lucky. Hugh was seriously injured at Pashendale in October 1917 in both his leg and arm, we was evacuated to England. Archie was able to obtain extended leave from France to visit him in St Thomas's 5th London General Military Hospital, while he was dangerously ill.

Both Hugh and Archie returned to their family in Mackay. Archie returned to his fathers business, and in 1923 married Madge Cocker, they had two sons - Archie and Henry. Archie senior died in 1963 aged 76; he is remembered as a prominent local businessman and a founding member of the Mackay Amateur Race Club.

Archie Black's collection has been digitised and his diaries transcribed, so that anyone can now follow his journey during the First World War, in England and France.

View the collection ...

29518 Archie Lindesay Black collection

Service record: Black, Archie Lindsay, National Archives of Australia, Series B2455, Item ID 3086552