The AIF Project

Harold James ROBINSON

Regimental number5759
Date of birth27 November 1899
Place of birthHillgrove, New South Wales
True NameROBSON
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationAssistant pastry cook
AddressJoseph Street, Lidcombe, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 3.25"
Weight107 lbs
Next of kinFather, E T Robinson, Joseph Street, Lidcombe, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed for 4.5 years in the Senior Cadets.
Enlistment date28 February 1916
Place of enlistmentSydney, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name2nd Battalion, 18th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/19/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 3 June 1916
Regimental number from Nominal Roll5759A
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll2nd Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 20 May 1919
Discharge date19 August 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 3 June 1916; found guilty, 15 June 1916, of at Fremantle, failing to report for duty when being duly warned: awarded forfeiture of 1 day's pay; found guilty, at sea, 26 July 1916, of (1) committing a disturbance by throwing water and food about the Troopship deck; (2) disobeying the command of an N.C.O. being in the execution of his duty: admonished; disembarked Plymouth, England, 3 August 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 30 September 1916; taken on strength, 30th Bn, in the field, 15 October 1916.

Reported missing, 2 November 1916; rejoined unit, 17 November 1916.

Deserted from unit while on march from Ribemont to Montauban, 20 November 1916; rejoined unit under escort,11 February 1917.

Posted as absentee, 28 March 1917; marched into 5th Australian Division Base Depot under escort, 9 February 1917.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, 21 March 1917, on charge (1) While on Active Service deserting His Majesty's Forces; (2) Absenting himself without permission. Pleaded Not Guilty. Found guilty on first charge. Sentence: to suffer death by being shot, with a strong recommendation to mercy on account of youth. Conviction quashed by GOC, Fifth Army.

Marched into 1st Australian Division Base Depot, Havre, 15 April 1917.

Admitted to 2nd Australian Field Ambulance, 24 September 1917; transferred to 39th General Hospital,27 September 1917; discharged to Base Depot, 21 October 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 28 days.

Admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, 7 December 1917 (venereal sore); transferred to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 9 December 1917; discharged, 19 December 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 13 days.

Marched into Australian Infantry Base Depot, Havre, 19 December 1917.

Transferred to 1st Australian Corps School (underage), 30 December 1917.

Marched out to Reinforcements Camp, Caestre, 27 March 1918; transferred to Australian Corps Working Company, 19 May 1918.

Found guilty, 17 July 1918, of being absent without leave from 2 pm, 13 July, to 8 pm, 14 July 1918: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No 2, and foreited 23 days' pay.

Found guilty, 18 October 1918, of while on Active Service being absent without leave from 8.30 am, 14 September 1918, until apprehended by MM Police, St Omer, at 11.30 am, 15 September 1918: awarded 7 days' confined to camp, and forfeited 7 days' pay.

Transferred to 2nd Bn, in the field, 1 December 1918.

Found guilty, 1 January 1919, of disobedience of orders, in that he was absent without leave from 1045, 1 Jnuary, till 1100, 3 January 1919 (48.25 hours): awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 10 days' pay.

Attached for duty to Headquarters, 1st Infantry Brigade, 13 January 1919.

Reported absent without leave, 27 January 1919; rejoined 2nd Bn, 6 February 1919.

Found guilty, 27 January 1919, of being absent without leave from 1200 till reporting back at 1800, 4 February 1919: awarded 14 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 23 days' pay.

Found guilty, 13 February 1919, of being absent without leave from 1300, 8 February, till reporting back at 0800, 13 February 1919: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited a total of 3 days' pay.

Admitted to 1st Australian Field Ambulance, 15 February 1919 (scabies); transferred same day to Rest Station; to 2nd Field Ambulance, 20 February 1919; to 8th Stationary Hospital, 23 February 1919; to England, 1 March 1919, and admitted same day to King George Hospital, Stamford Street, London; transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 10 March 1919; discharged on furlough, 31 March 1919, to report to AIF Headquarters, London, 14 April 1919.

Marched into No 1 Group, Longbridge Deverill, 7 April 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Nestor', 20 May 1919; disembarked Sydney, 4 July 1919; discharged, Sydney, 19 August 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Also served in World War II: enlisted, 18 May 1940; discharged, NX14654, 22 November 1940.
Date of death14 August 1980
Age at death80
Place of burialPalmdale Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Ourimbah, New South Wales
SourcesNAA: B2455, ROBINSON Harold James

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