Alan Russell Blacket
"Today is the 108th anniversary of the death of Lieutenant Alan Russell Blacket who played 1st Grade for SUCC in 1914-15 and who was a dedicated Law III student when he enlisted in the 1st AIF in 1915, aged 21.
On 28 July 1916, in a dug out at Pozieres, he was severely wounded by a shell or by gunshot (the accounts differ) to his chest and lungs and evacuated to Boulogne Hospital. He hung on. But on 13 August, he lapsed into a coma, tetanus having set in. He was unconscious for three days until death took him at 6.30pm, 108 years ago. He was buried two days later and he now lies at rest in the cemetery near the hospital.
He had first played for SUCC in 1913-14, mainly in 3rd Grade where he appears to have been under-graded. He scored 107 not out against Wests in February 1914 and followed this with a commanding 145 not out against Glebe in April. He was immensely popular with his teammates
2nd grade selection followed in 1914-15 until the unavailability of some regular 1st graders during the University vacation gave him his first opportunity in 1st Grade. On 8 February 1915, the day before his 21st birthday, Blacket strode out to bat at Parramatta Oval. He made only 6, batting at number 4, as SUCC scraped to a slender victory. He retained his place and scored a match-winning 37 not out in the next game against Glebe. His next four innings, however, produced scores of 6, 1 not out, 6 and 6. This was the end of his cricket career and he never got to take his place in Law IV. He was leading his men at Armentieres and Pozieres.
Until, on this day 108 years ago, he met his death in a hospital thousands of kilometres from University life, legal studies and the cricket fields that he had so enriched."
LEST WE FORGET.
James Rodgers