Black, Thorby Hilary (Bill)   (1918 - 1975)

Born on 7 October 1918 in Hobart, Tasmania; died on 12 December 1975 at Donvale, Victoria.

He was the son of Raleigh Adelbert Black and Elsie Thorby Noakes (his father Raleigh collected about 7,000 herbarium specimens).

Thorby worked for a Chartered Accountant firm Dickenson & Tadgell in Melbourne before World War 2.
His reference stated:
"He is a trained accountant and has passed his Intermediate examinations for the Commonwealth Institute of Accountants. He has had excellent experience in accountancy and audit work and in general office clerical duties."

He enlisted in the Australian Air Force on 22 October 1942 and after a range of postings was sent to Darwin in April 1944.
His war record shows:
"did not serve outside Australia, but did serve in Northern Territory north of parallel 14.5° south latitude between 15.7.43 to 3.10.44."

He was discharger on 13 June 1946.

He died on 12 December 1975 and his cremated remains were scattered in the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, City of Greater Dandenong, Victoria.

All his known plant collections are from the Dawin region during the War (presumably at the request of his father) and he does not appear to have collected anything after that.

Source: Extracted from:
National Archives of Australia military record file NAA A9301 119953
The Ryerson Index - BLACK Thorby Hilary (Bill)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244166869/thorby-hilary-black
Portrait Photo: 1942, National Archives of Australia military record file NAA A9301 119953.

Collecting localities for 'Black, T.H.' from AVH (2026)

Data from 114 specimens