Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Corporal Robert Henri Byrne was awarded the 1939/45 Star, Pacific Star, War Medal & Australia Service Medal.

Robert Henri Byrne was brought up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne (15 Tambo Ave Reservoir). He was only 17 when World War 2 began and volunteered in the early stages to offer his services.

A mid-mannered clerk in a timber yard, he spent the WW2 years in the islands of the Pacific with the Water Transport Branch of the 42nd Port Landing Company based in Bougainville, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Sergeant.

Designated VX76699, Robert Henri Byrne (aged 19 yrs 2 months) entered active service on 25 Feb 1942, and for 43 months was part of the 42nd Australian Landing Craft Company. His age at entry and months of service determined his priority for de-mobilisation. He was accepted for “Occupational Release” on 5 November 1946

During his service, at age 21, he attended a month-long training Orderly Room Sergeant’s course in later 1943, qualifying first class (with average 35 wpm typing skills and Merit level Education.

Like many others, Robert received the standard medals including:

1939/45 Star
Pacific Star
War Medal
Australian Service Medal

He returned safely from the war and spotted his future bride (Dorothy Evelyn Egan) on a tram travelling from East Preston to the Melbourne CBD.

Unfortunately he lost his Returned From Active Services Badge (A257753) during an Anzac Day March in Preston in 1946

They married on 19 November 1948, and moved to (37 Grafton St) Goulburn NSW in Sept 1948

Robert (Bob’s) dad (Albert Ernest Byrne AIF 19961) worked in timber yard in Reservoir and was very handy in covertly getting the post-war scarce house timber framing materials sent by rail to Goulburn.

First son (Robert Louis Byrne)was born a year later in Goulburn on 26 Sept 1949, and the family subsequently moved back closer to family and built a family home at 29 Storey Road Reservoir.

In those days, there were no power saws to cut timber and all measurements were achieved with a folding 3 foot timber ruler.

Post-war, Robert Henri Byrne attended night school at Clifton Hill to become a qualified accountant.

There were another three children born in Melbourne (Neville Joseph 1951, Kerry Maree 1956 & Margaret Bernadette 1958).

Robert Henri Byrne worked at the Argus Newspaper in Melbourne in the Melbourne Olympic year of 1956, and when the newspaper folded, obtained a position as Accountant at Tip Top Bakeries in Preston (& later Nunawading).

Robert was an early member of the Reservoir Branch of the Returned Sailer’s Soldier’s and Airman’s Imperial Services League (later the RSL) and managed the finances of the sub-branch as Treasurer for 35 years, earning several long-service awards (including Life Membership). He oversaw the introduction of the highly profitable poker machines to the Reservoir RSL.

He prided himself on attending every ANZAC Day March with the 42nd Water Transport Company while he still physically able.

Robert Henri Byrne died in 2001 from emphysema-related complications possibly generated by his introduction and addiction to cigarette smoking during his war years.