Sergeant Robert Aubrey Campbell
Service #: 287
Summary
PERSONAL LIFE
Robert Aubrey (Fraser) Campbell, known as Alec, was born in 1885 in Warneton, son of Robert & Mary Fraser. (the third Christian name, Fraser, he was using was not his birth name). He was one of 8 children. He married Rebecca Adeline Murray on 1st February 1911 in Queensland.
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
Alec also agreed to allot two fifths of the pay payable to me from time to time during his service to the support of his wife. He also signed that he was prepared to undergo inoculation against small pox & enteric fever
PAGE 2
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following
“The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him
OATH
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Robert Aubrey Fraser Campbell swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
SO HELP ME, GOD.”
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
His medical showed he was 5ft 11 ½ inches tall (1.81m), weighed 161 lbs (73kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & brown hair.
He was Church of England and had a scar on his right foot
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION
I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -
Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.
He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
This is completed during the recruits training. Robert was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 16th February 1916. He certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private into the 42nd Infantry Battalion B company with service No 287
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
INNOCULATIONS
All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.
THE UNIFORM
The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.
SOLDIER’S KIT
Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.
· Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.
· Braces: worn with breeches.
· Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.
· Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.
· Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.
· Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.
· Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.
· Jersey
· Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.
· Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.
· Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.
· Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.
· Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.
· Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.
· Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.
· Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.
· They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.
· No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid six shillings a day
PROMOTIONS TO LANCE CORPORAL AND PROVISIONAL CORPORAL
Although only a young farmer from Murwillumbah, Robert quickly stood out during his months in the Australian training camps. He impressed his instructors with a steady temperament, a strong work ethic and a natural ability to guide the men around him. Farming life had given him the physical strength and practical sense that the AIF valued, and he proved reliable, punctual, and quick to master each new skill. Robert set a quiet example in discipline and drill, and his clear, confident manner made him an effective instructor of the newer recruits. These qualities led to his promotion to Lance Corporal in March 1916 and to Provisional Corporal two months later — early recognition that he possessed the leadership and dependability expected of a junior NCO.
VOYAGE OVERSEAS FROM SYDNEY TO ENGLAND JUNE 1916
On the 3rd June 1916 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on the 5th June 1916, they embarked on the HMAR Borda. Alongside his comrades, Robert marched aboard, his boots ringing on the gangway. As the ship’s lines were cast off and the quay began to slip away, the reality of war lay ahead, but for now, the sea breeze carried only the sound of voices and the excitement of men bound for adventure, duty, and the unknown.
Sleeping & Living Arrangements
Recruits likely slept in a crowded troop deck below, where rows of hammocks or three-tier wooden bunks were crammed close together.
Air below decks could be stuffy, especially in warmer climates, and seasickness was common during the first few days.
Daily Routine
Reveille early each morning, followed by physical exercises on the open decks (weather permitting). There were parades and inspections—officers ensured uniforms, rifles, and kit were clean and in order. Training was a little problematic—drill without much space, rifle maintenance, lectures on military discipline, signalling, and trench warfare theory. The ship’s decks were used for marching in tight circles or practising bayonet thrusts into stuffed sacks. Rifle shooting was impossible at sea, so soldiers learned to strip and clean their weapons until it was second nature.
Meals
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. The meals were served in shifts from the ship’s galley. Queues were long, and eating on a rolling ship meant many tried to eat quickly before nausea set in.
Health & Sanitation
Shipboard hygiene was critical—every man was ordered to scrub his section daily to prevent disease. Saltwater baths were the norm, with freshwater rationed for drinking.
The Voyage Experience
Entertainment included church drill, concerts, singalongs, card games, and makeshift cricket matches on deck when the weather allowed. To keep up morale, an area of the ship was roped off where regular boxing and wrestling tournaments were held. This became commonly known as the Stoush Stadium. No letters could be sent until they reached port, but men often wrote diaries or unsent letters to be posted later.
The troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection
CROSSING THE EQUATOR CEREMONY
The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
SIGHTS AT SEA
On the way to Egypt, where the ship would refuel & take on supplies, the ship would pass through the Great Australian Bight, cross the Indian Ocean, and stop at Colombo (Ceylon now Sri Lanka) for coal and supplies.
SECURITY
By late 1914, German raiders were active, so lifeboat drills were frequent, and lookouts kept watch for suspicious ships. Troopships generally sailed in convoys or at least took zig-zag courses to make torpedo attacks harder. Ships often travelled under blackout conditions at night, with lookouts specifically watching for periscopes or torpedo wakes. The danger was greatest in the Western Approaches near Britain, where U-boats patrolled choke points like the English Channel and Irish Sea.
EGYPT
After several weeks at sea, the men finally saw the dusty shoreline of Port Said or Alexandria. They could only wonder at the sights and sounds they could see as they watched the ship being refuelled and goods taken on board
ENGLAND
On 23rd July 1916 later the men finally saw the green shoreline of England. The reality of leaving home truly sank in. The recruits would soon exchange the ship’s cramped decks for the training grounds of England, preparing for what lay ahead.
LARKHILL TRAINING CAMP
After landing at Southampton, the 42nd Battalion travelled inland to the vast sweep of the Salisbury Plain, where the newly formed 3rd Division was gathering. Their home for the next four months was Larkhill Camp, a sprawling military training centre set among rolling chalk downs, dotted with tent lines, timber huts and the constant movement of men and horses. It was here that Robert’s real preparation for the Western Front began. The camp was austere, windswept, and often cold, but it was organised with the single purpose of turning Australian volunteers into disciplined, battle-ready infantry.
Daily life at Larkhill was relentless. The men rose before dawn and were kept moving through a demanding schedule of musketry instruction, bayonet drill, and physical training. Marching across the open Plain became routine, the battalion often covering miles each day as instructors hardened them for the long movements expected in France. Robert, already proving himself as a capable junior NCO, would have been responsible for keeping his small group of men together, ensuring they were on parade, properly equipped and able to meet the high standards demanded of Monash’s division.
The Salisbury Plain was also one of the few places where realistic trench systems had been constructed for training purposes. The 42nd spent long hours digging, repairing, and learning to fight from trenches designed to mimic the front line as closely as possible. Live-fire exercises were carried out with machine-guns, bombs, and artillery so that the men could learn to move, take cover and work as a team under pressure. Gas drill was another constant feature of training; the battalion practised rapid mask fitting and responses to simulated gas alerts, something that was considered vital after the experiences of earlier AIF divisions.
What set this period apart was the scale of the training. Under Monash’s direction, the entire 3rd Division undertook coordinated battalion, brigade, and divisional manoeuvres across the Plain — enormous exercises involving thousands of men. These operations taught the units how to advance, consolidate ground, and communicate while under notional fire. For Robert, this was a period of learning not just the skills of an infantryman but the responsibilities of a leader. His role as an NCO required him to steady inexperienced men, keep order during long drills and ensure that his section performed as a cohesive part of the wider battalion.
FRANCE AND THE WESTERN FRONT NOVEMBER 1916
By the time the 42nd Battalion finally received orders to move to France in late November, the men were as well-prepared as any Australian formation sent to the Western Front. On 25 November 1916 they crossed the Channel and began the journey towards the Armentières sector — the so-called “nursery” area where newly arrived battalions were eased into trench warfare. Their months at Larkhill had forged them into a disciplined and confident unit, ready for the realities of the fighting that lay ahead.
HOSPITALISATION MUMPS DECEMBER 1916
Shortly after arriving in France, the 42nd Battalion was posted to the quiet “nursery” sector around Armentières, where new units were gradually introduced to trench life. The battalion rotated between brief spells in the trenches and periods in billets in nearby villages, learning the routines of sentry duty, wiring, and carrying parties while adjusting to the harsh winter conditions. It was during this time, on 11 December 1916, that Robert fell ill with mumps. Like many soldiers in the crowded billets and farm buildings the battalion used, he contracted the disease before his first extended tour in the front-line trenches. His time in hospital was part of the early acclimatisation to life at the front, ensuring he would return fit and ready to take his place with the men under his command.
REJOINED UNIT JANUARY 1917
After recovering sufficiently to return to duty, Robert rejoined his battalion on 2 January 1917, slipping back into the routines of life on the Western Front. Early 1917 was a period of constant strain for units like his—short, bleak winter days spent rotating between cold, waterlogged trenches and equally uncomfortable billets behind the lines. Even when not in the forward positions, training, carrying fatigues, and maintaining equipment kept the men continuously occupied.
Despite these conditions, Robert’s record suggests he remained steady and dependable. His name appears regularly without disciplinary entries, a sign of a solid soldier who quietly did what was required of him.
PROMOTED TO SERGEANT 16TH MARCH 1917
On 16 March 1917, a small but telling milestone appeared in his service: Robert was appointed Acting Sergeant, filling the position left vacant when Sergeant Graham was evacuated sick. These temporary promotions were common during the constant churn of manpower on the Western Front, but they were not given lightly. A commanding officer needed to be confident that the man stepping up could handle the administrative duties, the discipline of the section, and—most importantly—the leadership expected in the trenches.
For Robert, even this short-lived promotion reflected the trust placed in him. It meant he was seen as someone steady under pressure, capable not just of following orders but of guiding others.
ILLNESS: MYALGIA – 3 MARCH TO 31 MARCH 1917
Unfortunately, the physical toll of service began catching up with him. On 3 March 1917, just weeks before his acting promotion, Robert was admitted to CO 9 AFA (No. 9 Australian Field Ambulance) suffering from myalgia. In WWI terminology this often referred to severe muscle pain, stiffness, and exhaustion—symptoms commonly associated with trench exposure, overwork, and chronic fatigue. Prolonged damp conditions, poor sleep, and the strain of carrying equipment over rough ground made this a frequent complaint.
Although not life-threatening, myalgia could be debilitating enough to prevent a man from performing duties, particularly in front-line conditions where even basic movements required strength.
DETAILS REINFORCEMENT CAMP 31ST MARCH
He remained under medical care or in light-duty status until 31 March, when he was transferred to a Details Reinforcement (DR) Camp. These camps acted as holding and organising depots for men recovering from illness or awaiting return to their units. Robert would have spent this time on lighter tasks, reconditioning, and gradually returning to full strength.
REJOINED UNIT APRIL 1917
After a difficult early part of the year marked by illness, Robert Campbell returned to the frontline once again. On 16 April 1917, while operating in the field, he was reverted to Corporal when Sergeant Graham returned to duty—an administrative change, not a reflection on Robert’s performance. As before, he slipped seamlessly back into the rhythm of battalion life.
When Robert rejoined the 42nd Battalion on 16 April 1917, the battalion was serving in the aftermath of the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. The Australians had spent the preceding weeks advancing through territory abandoned by the retreating Germans and were now engaged in aggressive patrolling, reconnaissance and preparations for future operations. The battalion was part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division, which was steadily gaining experience on the Western Front after arriving from England only a few months earlier.
APRIL MAY 1917
Throughout April and May, Robert and his comrades alternated between periods in the front line and training behind the lines. The battalion occupied sectors around the Armentières region, where trench warfare remained a daily reality despite the absence of major offensives. Men carried out wiring parties under cover of darkness, repaired trenches damaged by shellfire, stood long hours of sentry duty and conducted patrols into No Man's Land. German artillery regularly shelled Australian positions, causing a steady stream of casualties even when no large-scale battle was underway.
JUNE 1917
In June 1917 the battalion participated in the Battle of Messines, one of the most successful Allied operations of the war. After months of careful preparation, the attack commenced on 7 June with the detonation of enormous mines beneath the German front line. The 42nd Battalion was involved in the advance that followed, helping secure objectives on and around Messines Ridge. The battle represented an important victory and demonstrated the increasing effectiveness of the Australian divisions working alongside British forces.
THE BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917
The primary objective of this battle was to secure the strategically important Wytschaete Messines Ridge, the high ground south of Ypres which in turn would benefit the allies to launch a larger campaign east of Ypres. The Australian involvement came under Lieutenant General Sir. Alexander Godley’s II Anzac Corps, which included the 3rd Australian Division. This Battle was launched on 7 Jun 1917 and exemplified tactical success through careful planning and firepower. The Battle of Messines was a meticulously planned operation aimed at capturing the Messines Ridge in Belgium.
On the June 17, 1917, the Australians were withdrawn from the Battle of the Somme to the battle for Messines which was initiated by the detonation of five-hundred tonnes of high explosives placed in 19 tunnels dug by the British, including Australian, tunnellers under the German fortifications along the Messines Ridge.
The resultant explosion, the largest ever in the world to that date, was clearly felt and heard in London. The Battle for Messines was the first time the new reinforcements were subjected to Phosgene Gas. This gas had previously been delivered by hand grenade and being subject to wind and how far it could be thrown was not all that popular with the enemy. Later the Germans perfected artillery and mortar shells which delivered the gas into the back of the enemy lines.
JUNE JULY 1917
Following the success at Messines, the battalion remained in the Ypres sector. During June and July, the men were heavily engaged in holding newly captured ground, improving trenches, constructing strongpoints and carrying supplies forward under constant enemy observation. The work was exhausting and dangerous. Shellfire, sniping and machine-gun fire were persistent threats, while working parties often suffered casualties despite not being involved in formal attacks.
BATTLE OF PILCKEM RIDGE WOUNDED IN ACTION – 31 JULY 1917
As the Allies prepared for the opening of the Third Battle of Ypres, the 42nd Battalion moved into positions around the Ypres Salient. The battlefield was becoming increasingly devastated by artillery bombardment as both sides attempted to dominate the ground before the coming offensive. On 31 July 1917, the opening day of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge—the first major assault of the Third Battle of Ypres—Robert was wounded in action. The attestation provides no details about the nature of the wound, and this is not unusual—reporting was often minimal unless the injury resulted in evacuation overseas. What is significant is that, while the wound was serious enough to require time away from the line, it was not permanently disabling.
Although the exact nature of his wound is not recorded in the documents you have, it occurred during one of the most significant operations undertaken by the battalion that year. The attack achieved many of its objectives but at considerable cost, as troops advanced through shell-torn ground under heavy enemy fire.
Although the exact nature of his wound is not recorded in the documents you have, it occurred during one of the most significant operations undertaken by the battalion that year. The attack achieved many of its objectives but at considerable cost, as troops advanced through shell-torn ground under heavy enemy fire.
REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1917
Following treatment and convalescence, Robert gradually improved. After treatment and recovery, Robert rejoined the 42nd Battalion on 27 August 1917. By then the Ypres campaign was continuing under increasingly difficult conditions. Constant shelling and heavy rain had transformed much of the battlefield into a sea of mud, making movement exhausting and complicating the delivery of food, ammunition and medical supplies. Despite these hardships, the battalion continued rotating through front-line, support and reserve positions while preparing for further attacks.
REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1917
By 27 August 1917, less than a month after his wounding, he was well enough to rejoin his unit—a relatively quick turnaround that speaks to both his resilience and the medical system’s efficiency in returning capable men to the front.
PROMOTION AND RENEWED RESPONSIBILITIES SEPTEMBER 1917
Robert's promotion to Sergeant on 4 September 1917 reflected both his experience and the confidence his superiors placed in him. Promotions during active operations were often earned through demonstrated leadership under difficult conditions, particularly as casualties created vacancies among senior non-commissioned officers. As a sergeant, Robert would have been responsible for a platoon section, helping maintain discipline, supervising operations and ensuring the welfare of the men under his command.
Robert’s leadership qualities were officially recognised. Even after illness and battle wounds, his officers trusted him with significant responsibility.
During September 1917 the 42nd Battalion remained engaged in the fighting around Ypres. The battalion participated in operations associated with the continuing offensive, including the battles that culminated in the successful attacks at Menin Road and Polygon Wood. These victories were achieved through carefully planned "bite and hold" tactics, but they came at a significant cost. The Australians faced intense artillery bombardments, machine-gun fire and the ever-present challenge of operating in terrain shattered by years of warfare.
SECOND WOUNDING – OCTOBER 1917
By early October, the battalion was still heavily involved in the Ypres campaign as preparations were made for further assaults against German positions on the ridge east of Ypres. It was during this period of relentless combat that Robert was again wounded in action on 4 October 1917. By that date the Australians were fighting in the Battle of Broodseinde, one of the most successful attacks of the entire Passchendaele campaign. Having already survived months of trench warfare, the Battle of Messines, the opening of Third Ypres, and the gruelling conditions of the Salient, Robert had established himself as a capable and respected senior NCO before his second wound removed him from the battlefield
This injury was far more severe- a gunshot wound to his right thigh and abdomen. He was sent immediately to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station, and by 7 October he had been classified as dangerously ill, a status reserved only for those whose lives were in imminent danger.
MEDICAL CHAIN
From the CCS he was transferred to the 53rd General Hospital, where he received further treatment. Despite the seriousness of his condition, records show that on 10 October 1917 he was admitted to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance—a sign that he had stabilised enough to be moved within the medical system, and that the immediate danger to his life had eased.
HEALTH FAILING
By October 1917 Robert’s health had begun to fail after the unrelenting strain of service in France. On 12 October 1917 he was formally struck off the strength of his unit at Boulogne and placed on the lists for evacuation to England. Two days later he crossed the Channel, arriving to the relative quiet of the depot system and being sent immediately for medical treatment. On 13 October he was admitted to Kitchener Military Hospital at Brighton, the large and well-organised facility that received many AIF men suffering from illnesses contracted on the Western Front. His records simply note him as “sick,” a broad term commonly used when the exact diagnosis was not recorded on the casualty form.
Robert remained in the medical and administrative system in England for the remainder of the year, transferred between depots and hospitals as his condition slowly improved. From Brighton he was moved north to the convalescent arrangements around Hampstead, and later to the Australian base at Sutton Veny, which was rapidly becoming one of the major administrative centres for the AIF in Britain. Here he continued to recover strength while awaiting instructions about his future posting.
AWARDED DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL
It was during this period in England that Robert received the news that would mark the high point of his military service. In early January 1918 his name appeared in the New Year Honours list, and on 14 January 1918 his records were officially updated to show that he had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. There is no indication of when the event occurred which resulted in this medal but it must have been in late September or early October as he received it as a Sergeant
“With reference to the announcement of the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the Honours Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 1st January 1918, the following are the acts of gallantry for which the decoration has been awarded: -
No. 207 Sergeant R A F Campbell D CM
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his platoon with great success in an attack, and handled it with splendid skill, under difficult conditions. He assisted in capturing an enemy machine gun with its crew. He sent back valuable and timely information, and contributed to the success of the operation by his courage & leadership”
ADVICE TO FAMILY
His wife received notice of his award which read “I have much pleasure in forwarding hereunder copy of extract from Third Supplement No 30636 to the London Gazette dated 16th April 1918, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your husband, No 287 Sergeant RAF Campbell, DCM, 42nd Battalion. The above has been promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No 137 dated 30th August 1918”
GOING HOME
Shortly after the award was recorded, Robert was listed for return to Australia. His medical condition was evidently considered sufficient to prevent further service in the field, and on 4 January 1918 he was placed among those to be repatriated. Administrative entries over the following weeks show him moving through the final staging posts of AIF personnel in England, the paperwork culminating in his discharge from the overseas establishment at Sutton Veny on 24 January 1918. With his health still fragile but his distinguished service formally recognised, Robert now prepared for the long voyage home. He returned on the Dunvegan Castle and was discharged on 10th August 1918
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION
Badges Hat Badges Collar (2) Bags kit universal
Bags kit sea Braces (pair) Brush, shaving
Brush, tooth Breeches M.S (Military service)
Cap comforter (warm cap) Comb, hair
Disc identity with cord Drawers (2 pairs)
Great Coat Hat, Khaki fur Hat, white
Holdall Housewife (compact sewing kit)
Jackets Cardigan Jackets S.D (service dress)
Leggings 1 pair Laces, leather 1 pair
Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions
Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection for the lower leg)
Razor Shirts, flannel (2) Socks, 3 pairs
Singlets (2)
Strap chin Soap piece Suit, working
Towels, hand (2)
Titles “Australia” (4)-
Australian soldiers and
non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their
shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also
wore unit titles above this which
indicated the units to which they belonged
For his service Robert was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
PENSIONS
His wife was granted a pension of 1 pound, 14shillings & sixpence from 11Th August 1918 and he received 3 pound 8 shillings from the same date
DEATH
Robert died on 7th October 1968 at Newtown and is buried Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Ryde, Plot East Terrace 3 Wall 5
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Ryde, Plot East Terrace 3 Wall 5
