Basil Temple Blackwood
Encyclopedia
Ian Basil Gawaine Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood (4 November 1870 to 3 July 1917) styled Lord Basil Temple Blackwood, was a British lawyer, civil servant and book illustrator.
and Hariot Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood
. He was born in Clandeboye
in Ireland. After spending part of his childhood in Canada, where his father was Governor-General, he attended Harrow School
. He went up to Balliol College, Oxford
in 1891, but never graduated. Whilst at Oxford, he became friends with Hilaire Belloc
, with whom he would enjoy long walks and canoeing trips.
. Blackwood's amusing pen and ink sketches were in a style which has been described as "German expressionism
", and were credited only to "B.T.B.". The book was an immedeate success. Blackwood went on to illustrate several more of Belloc's books including: The Modern Traveller (1898), A Moral Alphabet (1899), More Peers (1900), Cautionary Tales for Children
(1907) and More Beasts for Worse Children (1910). In the rhyming introduction to the Cautionary Tales, Belloc describes Blackwood's drawings as "...the nicest things you ever saw". Some critics claim that there is anti-Semitism
in Blackwood's drawings.
in 1896. In 1900, he was taken to South Africa by Lord Milner who had been appointed High Commissioner of South Africa in 1897 and assembled a body of talented young assistants which became known as "Milner's Kindergarten
". Blackwood was employed in the Judge Advocate's Department for a year, then was Assistant Colonial Secretary of Orange River Colony from 1901 to 1907. He became Colonial Secretary of Barbados
in 1907 and returning to England in 1910, was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Land Development Commission.
, Blackwood obtained a Commission
as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th Lancers, at the age of 44. He served as a "galloper" at the Battle of Mons
and was severely wounded in October 1914 and returned to the United Kingdom. While not yet fit for active service, he served in the Intelligence Corps
, and was Private Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
in 1916; but had recoverd sufficiently to became a Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards
in the same year. Blackwood was killed in action in a night raid at Boesinghe
near Ypres
on 4 July 1917. His name is inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing
.
Early life
Basil Temple Blackwood was the third son and fifth child of Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and AvaFrederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, KP, GCB, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC was a British public servant and prominent member of Victorian society...
and Hariot Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood
Hariot Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava
Hariot Georgina Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava VA CI DBE was a British peeress, known for her success in the role of "diplomatic wife", and for leading an initiative to improve medical care for women in British India.-Biography:Born Hariot Georgina Rowan-Hamilton, she...
. He was born in Clandeboye
Clandeboye
Clandeboye is in modern times an area of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is named after the Clandeboye family, a branch of the O'Neill dynasty. They settled in the 1330s after the death of the Earl of Ulster in what is now south Antrim and north Down, giving their name to the territory...
in Ireland. After spending part of his childhood in Canada, where his father was Governor-General, he attended Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
. He went up to Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
in 1891, but never graduated. Whilst at Oxford, he became friends with Hilaire Belloc
Hilaire Belloc
Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc was an Anglo-French writer and historian who became a naturalised British subject in 1902. He was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. He was known as a writer, orator, poet, satirist, man of letters and political activist...
, with whom he would enjoy long walks and canoeing trips.
Illustrations
In 1896, Belloc approached Blackwood to illustrate his book of humorous children's verse, The Bad Child's Book of BeastsThe Bad Child's Book of Beasts
The Bad Child's Book of Beasts is an 1896 children's book written by Hilaire Belloc. Humorously illustrated by Basil Temple Blackwood, the superficially naive verses give tongue-in-cheek advice to children. In the book, the animals tend to be sage-like, and the humans dull and self-satisfied...
. Blackwood's amusing pen and ink sketches were in a style which has been described as "German expressionism
German Expressionism
German Expressionism refers to a number of related creative movements beginning in Germany before the First World War that reached a peak in Berlin, during the 1920s...
", and were credited only to "B.T.B.". The book was an immedeate success. Blackwood went on to illustrate several more of Belloc's books including: The Modern Traveller (1898), A Moral Alphabet (1899), More Peers (1900), Cautionary Tales for Children
Cautionary Tales for Children
Cautionary Tales for Children: Designed for the Admonition of Children between the ages of eight and fourteen years is a 1907 children's book written by Hilaire Belloc...
(1907) and More Beasts for Worse Children (1910). In the rhyming introduction to the Cautionary Tales, Belloc describes Blackwood's drawings as "...the nicest things you ever saw". Some critics claim that there is anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
in Blackwood's drawings.
"Milner's Kindergarten"
Blackwood studied law and was called to the BarCall to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1896. In 1900, he was taken to South Africa by Lord Milner who had been appointed High Commissioner of South Africa in 1897 and assembled a body of talented young assistants which became known as "Milner's Kindergarten
Milner's Kindergarten
Milner's Kindergarten is an informal reference to a group of Britons who served in the South African Civil Service under High Commissioner Alfred, Lord Milner, between the Second Boer War and the founding of the Union of South Africa. They were in favour of the South African union and, ultimately,...
". Blackwood was employed in the Judge Advocate's Department for a year, then was Assistant Colonial Secretary of Orange River Colony from 1901 to 1907. He became Colonial Secretary of Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
in 1907 and returning to England in 1910, was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Land Development Commission.
Military Service
On the outbreak of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Blackwood obtained a Commission
Commission
Commission may refer to:* Commission , a form of payment to an agent for services rendered* Commission , a document given to commissioned officers....
as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 9th Lancers, at the age of 44. He served as a "galloper" at the Battle of Mons
Battle of Mons
The Battle of Mons was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of the Frontiers, in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders. At Mons, the British army attempted to hold the line of the...
and was severely wounded in October 1914 and returned to the United Kingdom. While not yet fit for active service, he served in the Intelligence Corps
Intelligence Corps
The Intelligence Corps is one of the corps of the British Army. It is responsible for gathering, analysing and disseminating military intelligence and also for counter-intelligence and security...
, and was Private Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
in 1916; but had recoverd sufficiently to became a Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
in the same year. Blackwood was killed in action in a night raid at Boesinghe
Boezinge
Boezinge is a village north of the city of Ypres in West Flanders, Belgium, on the N369 road in the direction of Diksmuide.Artillery Wood Cemetery, near the village, is a First World War cemetery. It is the location of the grave of Hedd Wyn, the 1917 National Eisteddfod-winning Welsh poet, and of...
near Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
on 4 July 1917. His name is inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing
Menin Gate
The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing is a war memorial in Ypres, Belgium dedicated to the commemoration of British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of the First World War and whose graves are unknown...
.