Service Highlights

• Born in St. Marys, Ontario.
• Rank Company Sergeant Major
• Son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Blackman of Wellington Street South, St. Marys.
• Worked in the wood shop at Maxwell Ltd. before enlisting.
• Enlisted in The Perth Regiment in June 1940.
• Trained at Camp Borden, Hamilton, and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
• Went overseas to England in September 1941.
• Served in Italy with The Perth Regiment.
• Was wounded in action in Italy,
• Married Caroline Scheuerman in 1940.
• Father of a son, Barrie, who was born after Frederick left Canada.
• Honoured through the St. Marys Legion Veterans Banner Program.

A Life and Service Remembered

Frederick Sidney Blackman was born and raised in St. Marys, where he attended both Public School and Collegiate Institute. Before the war he worked in the wood shop at Maxwell Ltd., one of the community’s major employers.

In June of 1940, Frederick enlisted with The Perth Regiment. His military training took him through Camp Borden, Hamilton, and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Frederick married his sweetheart Caroline in 1940 before he sailed for England in September 1941. While he was overseas, their son Barrie was born, much of Barrie’s earliest childhood passed while his father was serving far from home.

Frederick later went to Italy with his regiment. A surviving newspaper account records the difficult news that reached St. Marys when Frederick’s wife, Caroline, received an official telegram informing her that he had been wounded in action. The news came shortly after Caroline had received a letter from Frederick himself. He told her that he had been ill with diphtheria and had only recently finished convalescing. With the letter he enclosed a photograph of himself taken in Italy. Soon afterward, the family learned that he had been wounded.

At this time, we have not located a public service summary for Frederick Blackman that confirms unit, service number, or specific dates of service. Frederick’s wartime story is preserved not only through his military service, but through those personal details of a young husband and father whose family at home waited for every letter and every piece of news from Italy. His family continues to honor him through the veterans banner program.

Major Battles and Operations

• Service with The Perth Regiment
• Overseas service in England from September 1941
• Italian Campaign
• Wounded in action in Italy

Learn More

War time newspaper clipping, “Wounded in Action: Sergt. Fred Blackman”