NUMBER:
Trooper 2150

BATTALION / UNIT / SHIP:
4th Light Horse

PLACE OF BIRTH:
Yarraville, Victoria

NEXT OF KIN:
His wife, Mrs. Louisa Jane Banks of Koonwarra, Victoria

PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
Melbourne, Victoria 4/9/1915

PHYSICAL DETAILS ON ENLISTMENT:
Age 26 years 4 months, 5'6", 10 stone, blue eyes and brown hair

RELIGION:
Presbyterian

OCCUPATION:
Contractor

PLACE & DATE OF DEATH:
He died in Caulfield Hospital, Melbourne of wounds received on 16/10/1918 aged 29

LOCATION OF GRAVE/MEMORIAL:
He is buried in the Leongatha Cemetery

RELATIONSHIP TO WOORAYL SHIRE:
He came from Koonwarra, Victoria

MILITARY/OTHER HISTORY:
◈ He attended Sale State School
◈ 4/9/1915 He enlisted in Melbourne
◈ He was a member of the Leongatha Rifle Club
◈ 9/3/1916 He embarked Melbourne on the HMAT Katuna
◈ 16/4/1916 He arrived in Egypt
◈ 27/4/1916 He suffered from influenza
◈ 31/10/1917 He was in the action known as the charge on Beersheba
◈ 4/5/1918 He was seriously wounded in action in the Jordan Valley when a bullet entered his spine and he suffered from immediate paralysis of the lower limbs, bladder and rectum. Being paralyzed from the waist down he suffered badly. His wife received inaccurate information about his injuries but finally received a correct report
◈ 3/8/1918 He embarked for Australia on the 'Karoola'
◈ 4/9/1918 On arrival in Melbourne he was transferred to Caulfield Hospital
◈ 16/10/1918 He died in Caulfield Hospital aged 29
◈ 18/10/1918 Arrangements were being made for his remains to be transferred to Leongatha for burial in the Leongatha Cemetery
◈ Robert has his name on the black marble honour roll at the Leongatha Memorial Hall
◈ The 4th Light Horse Regiment was formed as Divisional Cavalry for the Australian Division. It was part of the 1st Contingent and raised at Broadmeadows Training Camp to the north of Melbourne, Victoria, on 11 August 1914. The recruits were drawn in large part from the Melbourne metropolitan area although the balance of men came from all seven Militia Regiments within the 3rd Military District which incorporated all of Victoria and part of Southern New South Wales. The men from New South Wales found themselves mainly in 'C' Squadron. Many of the men went from the Light Horse Militia formation into the AIF Light Horse