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Blackadder the accountant

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27th Jun 2014
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Fans of the famous BBC show Blackadder may be surprised to discover that the real-life World War One counterpart of Captain Blackadder was a Scottish chartered accountant.

Curious after finding a 'Captain Blackadder' when uploading information to mark the centenary of World War I, the team at Forces War Records decided to investigate and found similarities between the fictional and real-life characters.

Acting Captain Robert John Blackadder from Broughty Ferry had trained as an accountant with Alex M Stephens in Dundee and was admitted to ICAS in 1906.

He had two spells in British military service, the second when he was called up during the 1914-18 war.

After re-enlisting in 1914, he joined the 16th Battalion of the County of London Regiment, initially achieving the rank of Lance Corporal.

He was wounded by shrapnel on 5 July, 1915 and on 18 August, 1915 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the North Scottish Royal Garrison Artillery.

The researchers discovered real-life counterparts for Private James Baldrick, Lieutenant Athelstan Key Durance George and Captain John Clive Darling.

After the war, Capt Blackadder continued to work as a CA and maintained his membership of ICAS up to his death in Guildford, Surrey in 1968.

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