PERSONAL LIFE

Robert Aubrey 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.

ATTESTATION

Alec travelled to Brisbane on 19^th October 1915 to complete his application. He answered several questions on the document, and we find out he was born in the Warneton, was, 31 years and 4 months old and a married man. He gave his occupation as farmer. His next of kin was his wife, Rebecca Adeline Campbell, of Murwillumbah

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

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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.

His eyesight was good

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 was completed on 16^th February 1916, during his training.

He certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He accordingly approve, and appoints 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

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches, and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

PROMOTIONS TO LANCE CORPORAL AND PROVISIONAL CORPORAL

Although only a young farmer from Murwillumbah, Alec 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. Alec 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

On the 3^rd June 1916 his unit caught the troop train from Brisbane to Sydney and on the 5^th June 1916, they embarked on the HMAR Borda. Alongside his comrades, Alec 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.

The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On the voyage, due to overcrowding, training was limited to mainly to lectures and a little physical training.

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 23^rd 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, Alec 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, Alec’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 16^TH MARCH 1917

On 16 March 1917, a small but telling milestone appeared in his service:  Alec 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 Alec, 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, Alec 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 31^ST 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. Alec 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, Alec 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.

WOUNDED IN ACTION – 31 JULY 1917

Alec continued serving steadily through May, June, and most of July, but on 31 July 1917 he 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.

REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1917

Following treatment and convalescence, Alec gradually improved. 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

Just days after returning, Alec’s leadership qualities were officially recognised. On 4 September 1917, he was promoted to Sergeant. This was a substantive promotion, not a temporary or acting appointment, and demonstrated the regard in which he was held by his battalion. Even after illness and battle wounds, his officers trusted him with significant responsibility.

SECOND WOUNDING – OCTOBER 1917

The tempo of operations through September into early October was relentless, and Alec was again exposed to the hazards of the frontline. On 4 October 1917, he was wounded in action for a second time. 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.

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.

By October 1917 Alec’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.

Alec 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 Alec 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 1^st 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 16^th April 1918, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your husband, No 287 Sergeant RAF Campbell, DCM, 42^nd Battalion

The above has been promulgated in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No 137 dated 30^th August 1918”

GOING HOME

Shortly after the award was recorded, Alec 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, Alec now prepared for the long voyage home. He returned on the Dunvegan Castle and was discharged on 10^th August 1918

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service Alec 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 11^Th August 1918 and he received 3 pound 8 shillings from the same date

DEATH

Alec died on 7^th October 1968 at Newtown and is buried Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, North Ryde, Plot East Terrace 3 Wall 5

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