SAS Blackman, Michael John D'Arcy (Mike)

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Blackman
  • FORENAME
Michael John D'Arcy (Mike)
  • UNIT
1 SAS (HQ Squadron - Intelligence Officer)
  • RANK
Lieutenant (T/Captain)
  • NUMBER
71178
  • AWARD
bar to Military Cross
  • PLACE
Normandy 1944
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit 1 Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbyshire Regiment),
attached Army Air Corps
born 9.9.1916
Special Raiding Squadron 1943 (Lieutenant)
1 SAS (B Sqdn + HQ Sqdn) 1944-45
holder M.C.
later O.B.E.
died 15.10.1999
 

CITATION:

Military Cross (1 Foresters, 1 Armd .Bde.) : Captured at TOBRUK on 21 Jun 42. Escaped from here and reached the sea, but was recaptured 20 km. outside the outer perimeter. When at Campo 21 (CHIETI) made two abortive plans for escape, and one attempt, but was recaptured after a few hours. Was in Campo 19 (BOLOGNA) at the time of the Armistice. With three others he hid in an incomplete tunnel on 11 Sep. 43. On this day the Germans cleared the Camp and began using it as a transit camp for their own forces. Capt. BLACKMAN came out of the turnel that night, climbed the wall and two wire fences and made for the woods.. He journeyed south with two others; they were seen by a German patrol and Capt. BLACKMAN escaped capture by hiding in a bush. The other two were re-taken. He finally arrived in British hands on 30 Nov. 43.

Military Cross (Bar) : On the night of 7/8 July 1944 Captain BLACKMAN in command of a small patrol parachuted behind the enemy lines to a D.Z. North East of MAYENNE with orders to reconnoitre the area MAYENNE - LAVAL - LE MANS. From the 8th July until 12th August when his area was overrun by allied troops he sent back messages every day giving details of enemy movements, enemy positions, enemy identifications and H.Qs and details of targets of all kinds for the F.A.F. and reports as results of bombing etc - in all over 100 messages. The majority of this information he obtained by personal reconnaissance and by organizing the local maquis to obtain all possible information and report it to him. In addition he instructed and advised the local resistance movements. Through his initiative and continual activity a very large amount of invaluable information was obtained about this ----- area in spite of the fact that it was immediately in the rear of the enemy front line. The code name of this operation was HAFT.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire : He has been AA & QMG of the 3rd Division since January 1960. In addition to the normal duties of an administrative staff officer Lt Col Blackman has been responsible for keeping every aspect of air maintenance under constant review and for the provision of lighter and more efficient equipment. Much of his efforts have borne fruit; there will be in time standard equipment throughout all parts of the Strategic Reserve world wide; common SOP's are being adopted; modern, efficient and light equipment is now being bought. These are some of his achievements. His tireless efforts and great enthusiasm has made the Strategic Reserve a more efficient and mobile force.

Place : UK
Date of Action : Jun 60 to Jun 61
How Employed : Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General, HQ 3 Division

WEB LINKS:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7395923 (MC)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9087344 (MC Bar)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7629567 (OBE)

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7395923 (MC)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9087344 (MC Bar)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7629567 (OBE)
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