12 Facts About Stewart Blacker

Stewart Blacker was educated at Cheltenham College and Bedford School, before going to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Stewart Blacker served in Afghanistan, Turkestan, and Russia, earning several mentions in dispatches.

Stewart Blacker served with the 69th Punjabis, Queen's Own Corps of Guides, and 57th Wilde's Rifles.

Stewart Blacker had learned to fly in 1911, receiving Certificate No 121 from the Royal Aero Club, and at the start of the First World War he was attached to the Royal Flying Corps.

Stewart Blacker was shot down and wounded in 1915,1916 and 1917.

Stewart Blacker was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1921 for his service in Persia.

Stewart Blacker served on the Imperial General Staff between 1924 and 1928.

Stewart Blacker married Lady Doris Peel, the daughter of William Peel, 1st Earl Peel the former Secretary of State for India.

Stewart Blacker organized the event with Colonel Percy T Etherton and was the chief observer, writing a book First over Everest.

At the start of the Second World War Stewart Blacker was a lieutenant colonel.

Stewart Blacker took his weapons to his contacts at the War Office and was introduced to Major Millis Jefferis who engaged him and sent him to Coates Castle at Coates, West Sussex, from where his Blacker Bombard, a spigot mortar was developed.

In July 1941 Stewart Blacker proposed a projectile to be fired by a Ordnance QF 25-pounder consisting of a large warhead with a trailing stick that sat inside the barrel.