Sergeant James S Blackie

Sgt James (Jim) Stoddart  Blackie joined as a boy soldier. 

While serving with the RASC in Malaya in 1962 Jim Blackie was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct. The citation for this award records:

"On the evening of Mon 24 Sep 62 Sgt Scott and Cpl Blackie of Det 55 Coy (RASC) AD RAAF Butterworth were crossing on the ferry from Butterworth to Penang. At about 1905 hours when the ferry was about mid-channel an alarm was sounded with a hooter and whistles and the ferry started to circle.

Sgt Scott ran to the front of the ferry and on asking what the trouble was he was told that a man had gone overboard. At this time he was joined by Cpl Blackie and the man was sighted about thirty yards from the ferry. Although fully dressed in in overalls and jungle boots the two NCOs leapt into the water and swam towards the man who was in trouble. He was hysterical and incapable of helping himself.

For a quarter of an hour the two NCOs kept him above water with the help of a lifebelt thrown from the ferry. During this period the ferry was manoeuvred so as to pick them up but the master did not stop the propellors with the result that the three men were in danger of being dragged under the hull by the wash. The rescuers, however, although endangered, refused to let go of the drowning man. A rope ladder thrown by the ferry broke. Next a rope was thrown down but the rescuers could not use it without letting go of the man. Eventually some twenty minutes after they had jumped into the water a sampan fortunately came up and dragged all three on board. Once on board the two NCOS applied artificial respiration to the man they had rescued who was by now unconscious. This was successful. They then accompanied the man first to a police station and then to hospital.

The sea during this period was choppy and the current strong. There is no doubt that it was only the prompt action, tenacity and disregard of their personal safety by these two NCOs which saved this man’s life."

He retired from duty due to ill health in 1970.