The AIF Project

John Medley ROBERTSON

Regimental number934
Place of birthRed Hill, South Australia
SchoolRed Hill Public School, South Australia
Other trainingMechanical engineering, Gawler School of Mines, South Australia
ReligionMethodist
OccupationElectrician
Address36 Miller Street, North Unley, South Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation32
Height5' 7.5"
Weight148 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Robertson, 36 Miller Street, North Unley, South Australia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date1 September 1914
Place of enlistmentMorphettville, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name10th Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/27/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board Transport A11 Ascanius on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollBombardier
Unit from Nominal Roll11th Field Artillery Brigade
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

FateDied of wounds 5 July 1917
Age at death from cemetery records36
Place of burialTrois-Arbres Cemetery (Plot I, Row R, Grave No. 37), Steenwerck, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
17
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in Gawler Cemetery, South Australia. Photo: Peter Dennis. Parents: Andrew (d. 12 June 1912, aged 67; bu. Gawler Cemetery) and Sarah ROBERTSON, 36 Miller Street, North Unley. Native of Redhill, South Australia
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 2 March 1915.

Wounded in action, May (?) 1915; evacuated to hospital, Alexandria, and transferred to Convalescent Camp (no further details recorded); marched in to Overseas Base from Convalescent Camp, 2 June 1915; embarked Alexandria for Gallipoli, 8 June 1915; rejoined 10th Bn, Gallipoli, 13 June 1915.

Appointed Lance Corporal, Mudros, 3 December 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria, 9 December 1915 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Transferred to 50th Bn, 26 February 1916; taken on strength, Tel el Kebir, 29 February 1916.

Transferred to 4th Division Artillery, 14 March 1916; taken on strength, 24th Howitzer Brigade, and posted to 111th Battery.

Admitted to 13th Field Ambulance, Serapeum, 15 May 1916; discharged to duty same day; rejoined unit, 19 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 3 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 13 June 1916.

Admitted to 140th Field Ambulance, 31 October 1916 (broken denture), and transferred same day to 41st Division Rest Station; discharged to duty, 1 November 1916.

Joined Divisional School (Signalling), La Chausee, 14 January 1917.

Transferred to 11th Field Artillery Brigade, 25 January 1917, and posted to 41st Battery.

Promoted Temporary Bombardier, from 13 May 1917.

Promoted Bombardier, 13 May 1917.

Wounded in action, Belgium, 4 July 1917 (gun shot wound, fractured clavicle), and admitted to 4th New Zealand Field Ambulance, and transferred to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station.

Died of wounds, 5 July 1917.

Statement, Red Cross File File No 2320802H, 1933 Gunner E.M. TURNER, 41st Battery, 11th Field Artillery Brigade (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 16 October 1917: 'I saw him wounded at Le Bezet, and I helped to carry him to the Dressing Station about 300 yds. away. He was hit in the head by shrapnel, due to a premature explosion from one of our own guns, and only lived a few hours after.'

Second statement, 4434 Gunner H. BUCKLEY, 11th Field Artillery Brigade (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 30 October 1917: 'He was a Bombardier. I saw him wounded by a premature burst from his own gun. Saw him taken back. This happened about Ploegsteert Armentieres in the morning.'

Third statement, 1344 Pte S. FARRELL, 11th Field Artillery Brigade, 5 November 1917: 'I was with him when he was hit by a premature burst of one of our own shells at Nieppe in Belgium - he was filling sandbags to make a dug out for himself at the time, while our Batty. was finding a range. The shell burst almost as soon as it left the muzzle. I was only five yards away. The wound was in the head. I helped take him to the ambulance.

Fourth statement, 4156 Driver F.G. CARTER, 11th Field Artillery Brigade, 8 March 1918: 'He was wounded at Battery position between Armentieres and Messines, on the afternoon of 4th July. I helped to apply bandages and to carry him to dressing station where he was attended to and then forwarded to C.C.S. and died the following day.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, ROBERTSON John Medley
Red Cross File File No 2320802H

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