The AIF Project

Rollo BARBER

Regimental number1908
Place of birthNorwood, South Australia
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationLabourer
AddressPerth, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20
Height5' 9.5"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Grace Barber, 662 Edmond Street, Beaconsfield, Fremantle, Western Australia
Previous military serviceServed in the 86th Infantry Bn, Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date13 January 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll4 February 1915
Place of enlistmentPerth, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name11th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/28/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 26 April 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Machine Gun Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Courage and devotion to duty in assisting N.C.O. to maintain post. (Lagnicourt, 15 April 1917).
Recommendation date: 21 April 1917

FateReturned to Australia 28 February 1919
Medals

Military Medal


Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 174
Date: 11 October 1917

Discharge date10 June 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Taken on strength, 11th Bn, Gallipoli, 16 June 1915. Admitted to 1st Field Ambulance, 4 September 1915 (diarrhoea and debility); transferred to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Mudros, 4 September 1916; to Convalescent Camp, Ras el Tin, Egypt, 6 October 1915; discharged to duty, 15 November 1915.

Found guilty, 2 December 1915, of being absent from defaulters' roll call from 11 am, 28 November, until 9 am, 29 November 1915: awarded 14 days' detention.

Found guilty, 22 December 1915, of being absent from picquet mounting at 4.30 pm, 21 December 1915: awarded 3 days' confined to barracks.

Found guilty, 25 November 1915, of being drunk in town and absent from camp, 10-11.45 pm, 22 November 1915: awarded 14 days' confined to barracks and fined 10/-.

Rejoined unit, Tel el Kebir, 7 January 1916.

Detached to Instructional School, Helouan, 6 February 1916; rejoined unit from detachment, 27 February 1916.

Transferred to 3rd Machine Gun Company, Serapeum, 13 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 29 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 5 April 1916.

Found guilty, 2 July 1916, of whilst on Active Service being found in a drinking house during prohibited hours: awarded 168 hours' Field Punishment No 2.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, 28 October 1916 on charge of (1) while on Active Service drunkenness (2) disobeying a lawful command given by a Superior Officer; found guilty of both charges: awarded 35 days' Field Punishment No 1.

Awarded Military Medal.

Found guilty, 30 July 1917, of conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline in that he left his Billet after 'Lights Out' and created a disturbance by swearing and shouting: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Appointed Driver, 21 November 1917.

On leave to England, 18 May 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 30 May 1917.

Unit designation changed to 1st Machine Gun Bn, 1 April 1918.

On leave to United Kingdom, 31 July 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 25 August 1918.

Appointed Lance Corporal, 29 August 1918; promoted Temporary Corporal, 22 September 1918; Corporal, 3 October 1918.

Proceeded to England for return to Australia, 2 January 1919; marched in to No 4 Command Depot, 3 January 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Anchises', 28 February 1919; disembarked Albany, 7 April 1919; discharged, Perth, 10 June 1919.

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death29 December 1992
Place of burialCremated: ashes scattered into the Hawkesbury River, Point Clare, New South Wales

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