Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

According to war records, Robert enlisted on the 26th January 1915, at the age of 21 yrs and 2 months. While his trade or calling was listed as Farmer, this record also says that he had been apprenticed as a carpenter. Army records also describe Robert as 5 feet and 7 ¾ inches in height, or about 172 centimetres, 9 stone 8 lbs. (60.78kgs), fair complexion and grey eyes and dark brown hair.

Newspaper articles in the Young Witness of that time, and Letters from him to family, reveal Robert's struggles, and the anguish his family must have experienced. Robert was wounded three times, and with the last he experienced shell shock (now known and PTSD).

Initially, Robert was enlisted in the 17th Battalion that was raised at Liverpool in NSW in March 1915 as part of the 5th Brigade. It left Australia in early May, trained in Egypt from mid-June until mid-August, and on 20 August landed at ANZAC Cove.

News about Robert naturally took some time to reach home. Reports home initially stated that Robert was missing. Thenon the 24 September, nearly 10 days later, the following newspaper report appears in the Young Chronicle, headed Private Saines Found: ‘We are very pleased to be able to state that private ‘Bob’ Saines of young who was reported missing by the defence authorities last week has been found. On Tuesday Mrs Cranfield received another wire from the Defence Department to say that Bob had embarked for England. This would imply that he is either sick or wounded. We can only hope now that his wounds are not very serious and that he will have a good time in the ‘Old Dart.

A later report in the Young Witness of 1 December 1916, stated that 'Private Saines who is a son of Mr Reuben Saines, it will be remembered, was wounded in the lone pine charge on Gallipoli on the 27th of August 1915, a bullet going right through his leg below the knee. He was invalided to England where he had been in hospital up till about two months ago. A letter dated 1 October was written from the firing line we trust the wounds are not serious.'

Early in 1916, his family received news from Robert. Again the Young Witness reports in 12 November:

IN A LONDON HOSPITAL: PRIVATE BOB SAINES WRITES HOME
Writing from Wood Park, Convalescent Hospital, Epsom (Eng.) on 3rd October Private ‘Bob’ Saines who was wounded at the Dardanelles writes the following interesting letter: - ‘I suppose you thought I had forgotten to write, but things have been rather unsettled this last month or two. We left Egypt for the Dardanelles on the 14th August and arrived at the front on the 12th of August we landed at daylight, under shellfire and we never lost a man that day; we were in the trenches nearly 10 days. I will never forget the sights and the flies; they would eat you alive. We were short of water and if we went after it we would be shot down by the enemy. They're just like giants, but the little Australians are not frightened of them. I will never forget the 27th of August about 5 o’clock, we made a bayonet charge all along the line. There was a big bombardment lasting about two hours. The sights were awful to look at. Turks falling all over the place. Shells were firing the grass and bushes. At 5:00 the order was passed to charge. We fixed bayonets and we were hollering and singing out - men falling all over the place, but don't worry I only got about 5 yards from that trench when I was shot through the leg. I was one of the lucky ones, because I did not have far to get back to our trench. My wound was dressed and I was taken down on a stretcher to the beach, and put on a hospital ship. I was pleased when I was bound for England. We were three weeks coming here. We stopped at Malta, took in coal and went on to Gibraltar. We waited there six days for an escort. My word that is the place - talk about guns, there must be thousands there. It was a lovely trip over. We passed two lifeboats turned upside down. Some shipwreck I suppose. We landed at Devonport, and came onto London in a Red Cross train. It was lovely, we were fed in the train, and had plenty of cigarettes to smoke. They looked after us like fighting cocks. We arrived at Paddington railway station. Talk about a crowd of motor ambulances, and women, they could not do enough for the Australians. We were driven to the hospital, it is a fine place and I have plenty of friends to come and see me. I was about on crutches for about 3 weeks, and now I am just the thing. I'm convalescent now and when I get right I will have 18 days furlough. I expect to be back at the front about Christmas time. I'm ready to go back to do a bit more. Remember me to all the neighbours.'

War records show that Robert was wounded in France on 2 November 1916. By this time Robert Robert had transferred to the 83rd Battalion.

The Australian War Memorial states that 'the 53rd Battalion was raised in Egypt on 14 February 1916 as part of the "doubling" of the AIF. Half of its recruits were Gallipoli veterans from the 1st Battalion, and the other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. Reflecting the composition of the 1st, the 53rd was predominantly composed of men from the suburbs of Sydney. The battalion became part of the 14th Brigade of the 5th Australian Division.'

'The battalion arrived in France on 27 June 1916, entered the front line for the first time on 10 July, and became embroiled in its first major battle on the Western Front, at Fromelles, on 19 July. The battle of Fromelles was a disaster. The 53rd was part of the initial assault and suffered grievously, incurring 625 casualties, including its commanding officer, amounting to over three-quarters of its attacking strength. Casualty rates among the rest of the 5th Division were similarly high, but despite these losses it continued to man the front in the Fromelles sector for a further two months.'

'The 53rd spent the freezing winter of 1916-17 rotating in and out of trenches in the Somme Valley. ... The 53rd Battalion entered its last major battle of the war on 29 September 1918. This operation was mounted by the 5th and 3rd Australian Divisions, in co-operation with American forces, to break through the formidable German defences along the St Quentin Canal. The battalion withdrew to rest on 2 October and was still doing so when the war ended.'

In France, Robert is wounded a second and third time. The Young witness reporting, on 13 January 1917, That

'[As a result of that second wounding] private Saines had to again go into hospital, but in his letter home which was written a month later, he intimated that he was once more feeling well. He was there working in a convalescent camp in France, but did not know how long he might be kept there. He expected, however, to be sent again to the frontline at any moment. While ill in London, private Saines was fortunate in being located in close proximity to the home of one of his aunts, who saw that he did not waste for any comforts. He sends remembrances to all his friends at young and mentions meeting Private C. Fuller at Salisbury plains camp.'

War service records then show that Robert was wounded a third time in France. 'Rejoined Unit from Hospital 7.4.17. And then another insert in his service record says: 'Wounded in Action, remaining at duty France. 9.5.17, and To Hospital Sick 6.8.17. ... rejoined unit 1.3.18. The Young Witness speaks of Robert of any earlier wounding, 'on the 1st of November 1916 he was blown up and afterwards suffered severely from shell shock.'

Robert married his English wife, Lilian Gladys Hawker on 18 July 1917, at the Registry Office, Kingston, Surrey, England. Obviously, they met while he was being nursed or convalescing. A Registry Office wedding may have meant they were not religious, but more likely, I think to do this in a hurry. The war did not end until 11 November. Robert would later enlist for WWII.

There is one further sad family detail: a link to two Uncles. Robert Saines mother, Emily Ellen Saines nee Wright died giving birth to Robert on 1 November 1893. Samuel Wright was her older brother and Douglas Wright her younger.

Samuel was killed on the 8th August. Robert was wounded at Gallipoli on 27th of August 1915 and transferred out. Samuel was killed in action in France on 29th August 1916.

Roberts grandparents, Daniel and Sarah, very elderly at this time waited for news of their sons. Did they also know about Robert?