HENRY, Robert Murdock
| Service Number: | 417 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Euroa, Victoria, 9 October 1896 |
| Home Town: | Gundy, Upper Hunter Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Benalla High School |
| Occupation: | Station Hand |
| Died: | Natural causes, Gunnedah, New South Wales, June 1985 |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Euroa Telegraph Park, Gundy District Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Trooper, 417, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 417, 6th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 417, 6th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 15 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 417, 6th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 23 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 4 Nov 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 29 Dec 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 6th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 24 May 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Sergeant, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), Cadetship | |
| 22 Aug 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 417, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), HT 'Anchises', London for return to Australia - arriving 13 October, 1919. | |
| 24 Jan 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 417, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
A Victorian born grazier, wheat trader and stock and station agent, Bob Henry became one of Gunnedah, NSW's great characters during the 55 years he lived in the town.
A Gallipoli veteran, Bob Henry enjoyed a colourful and varied military career. Enlisting in September, 1914 he stated his age as '21' but was just short of his 18th birthday. Heading off to war in December, 1914, he landed on Gallipoli in May, 1915 but was evacuted a week later due to illness. Returning to the peninsula in August he was amoungst the last party on the forward right flank to be evacuated on December 20.
Promoted to Corporal and then Sergeant, he served with the Light Horse in Egypt and the desert and was part of the famed charge at Beersheba. He also claimed to have met the fabled Lawrence of Arabia on several occasions.
In 1918 he was transferred to the Australian Flying Corps, taking up a cadetship in England to train as a pilot, but the war ended before he was required to fly in combat.
Remaining in England during the first half of 1919, Bob Henry underook on farm training in stock and agricultural mangement - training that was to support his future career.
After his return to Australia, Bob married Esme Jean Richens at Ardlethan in 1926. They came to Gunnedah in 1929. RM Henry established a successful stock and station agency, with a focus on wheat trading, and became well known in agricultural circles across north west NSW.
In later years, he often spoke of his war-time experiences with great zest and humour at RSL functions.
Robert Murdoch Henry died in June, 1985 at the age of 89. He was survived by his wife Jean and three children. Jean died in 1993.
Credit: RG McLean
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