Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Andrew Aikman was born in April of 1893 in Glenelg, Holdfast Bay, South Australia. While little is known about his personal life growing up, he presumably lived with his father, George Aikman, in Glenelg. Robert and his family were Anglicans, followers of the Church of England. The young man had grey eyes, dark brown hair, and a swarthy complexion. He worked as a labourer, up until September of 1914. He decided to enlist himself to serve in the First World War when he was only twenty-one years old. At the time of recruitment, Robert weighed 73kg, measured 180cm tall, and had a chest measurement of 91cm. His service number was 1000.

Robert was a part of the 16th Battalion in the 4th Brigade of the 1st Division, along with a little over one hundred other soldiers. They embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Troopship A40 Ceramic on December 22nd of 1914. They arrived in Egypt in February, where they switched to the British structure of Divisions, being 3 Brigades per Division instead of 4. This meant another Division was created and the 4th Brigade was moved, and formed with the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, the New Zealand Mounted Brigade, and the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade. This Division had 4 Brigades instead of 3, but this was because the Mounted units were smaller in size.

They landed in Gallipoli in the Spring of 1915. Robert was wounded on the 28th of April, suffering a severe gunshot wound in the face. He survived and was later posted to the 48th Battalion on the 29th of April 1916. Robert was wounded in the eye on the 1st of June that year in Te-el-Kebir, and this ultimately developed into defective vision. Records detail conditions such as neuritis, hypermetropia and astigmatism. A few months later, he returned to Australia for his discharge from the 48th Battalion in September. Robert’s character was described as good throughout his total service of 1 year and 358 days. His final rank remained private, and he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Robert fought courageously, and after his discharge, he went on to live a long life of 72 years. During this time, he met and married his spouse, Dora Evelyn Aikman. He passed away from natural causes in the Home for Incurables, Adelaide, South Australia, on the 1st of November 1965. Robert Andrew Aikman currently rests at the Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia, Australia. His name is found on the Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board.