29378 / S30323
MARCHANT, Roby Frederick
| Service Numbers: | 8472, S70286 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Mile End, South Australia, 2 March 1896 |
| Home Town: | North Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Adelaide, South Australia, 21 January 1980, aged 83 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 8472, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Gunner, 8472, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Persic, Melbourne | |
| 22 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 8472, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 8472, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , Battle for Pozières | |
| 28 Nov 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Bombardier, 6th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 10 Aug 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 6th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 30 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 8472, 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Apr 1942: | Involvement Lance Corporal, S70286 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 10 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, S70286 | |
| 16 Oct 1945: | Discharged |
Awarded the Military Medal
The following article told the story of the bravery of Bombardier Roby F. Marchant with the following included at the bottom:
"...Bbdr. Marchant was a member of the Baptist Church at North Adelaide and was actively connected with its football and cricket clubs. He also belonged to the champion cadet team of South Australians which went to Melbourne and Sydney to compete. He was 19 years of age on March 2 last." - from the Adelaide Register 17 Nov 1916
Submitted 17 May 2015 by Susanne Rendell
Biography
"A BRAVE BOMBARDIER.
Bombardier Roby F. Marchant, who has won the Military Medal, left here last October for the front. He was a member of the Baptist Church, North Adelaide, and was actively connected with the football and cricket clubs of that church. He was a member of the champion cadet team of South Australia which visited Melbourne and Sydney a few years ago. He will be 20 years of age on March 2 next. In a letter dated September 16 to the father of the young hero Major Dean writes:—
"It is with the greatest pleasure that I am able to write to you and say that this morning Roby was rewarded for his gallantry and bravery by receiving at the hands of General Birdwood the ribbon of the Military Medal, which was awarded to him some time ago. May I relate the acts of bravery which brought this distinction on your boy, and also this battery. We are proud of him, and envy him very much. On August 7 last, when the battery had been very heavily shelled, four men being killed and several wounded, it was necessary to withdraw. Later orders were received that one gun was to continue firing. Your boy with others volunteered to go back and continue. Soon after getting into No 1 pit and firing, this pit was struck by an 11 in., shell. Most of the detachment were dazed, but fortunately not seriously hurt. Your boy then went into No. 2 pit and continued to lay and fire this gun by himself. Thereby the fire was not stopped. I hope that Roby may continue in his good work, and that some day I may be able to further reward him by promotion. May I congratulate you on behalf not only of myself, but for my officers and his comrades also." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 25 Nov 1916 (nla.gov.au)
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