PERRAU, Robert Donaldson
| Service Number: | 526 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Second Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 35th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Surveyor |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 11 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 25), Belgium |
| Memorials: | Hamilton War Memorial, Newcastle High School Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 526, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement 526, 35th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked 526, 35th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Sydney | |
| 1 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Warrant Officer, 35th Infantry Battalion | |
| 27 Dec 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 35th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Robert Donaldson Perrau's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery, and my father’s Honour and Dignity to be restored, not forgotten.
105 years ago today, on the 11th June 1917, 2nd Lieutenant Robert Donaldson Perrau, 35th Battalion (Reg No-526), draftsman & assistant surveyor (Government Land Board, Lismore, N.S.W.), was Killed in Action at the Battle of Messines, age 21 years 9 months.
Born at Cooks Hill, New South Wales on the 21st September 1895 (as PERRAN) to William Rowland resting here, also sleeping here, William Stanley Perrau of 81 Laman Street, Newcastle, N.S.W.) and Edith Marion (died 1948) Perrau of Beaumont Street, Hamilton, N.S.W. and "Gilnockie", Lawes Street, East Maitland, New South Wales, Robert enlisted January 1916 at Newcastle, N.S.W.
Unfortunately, Mr. Perrau’s remains were unable to be located after the war, so his name has been inscribed on The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 25),
Robert's father William Rowland Perrau (16th Australian Railway Operating Company, Reg No-1823), laid to rest on the 22nd May 1937, age 67. PRESBYTERIAN-6NE. 69.
There is no headstone at the curbed gravesite to tell us about William’s service and sacrifice during The Great War, therefore no memorial inscription about the supreme sacrifice of his son Robert, so February 2017 I erected a wooden cross and Memorial cross adorned with poppies in remembrance.
A Plaque shall be installed at the gravesite courtesy of the Forgotten Diggers Headstone Project.
Photo 5 is a Virtual Image created by Terry St George to show us what the concrete base with plinth and Plaque would look like when gravesite is complete, so William is “Forever Remembered”.
Ryan Dudley descendant.
Surname often misread and recorded as Perran or totally wrong spellings.
William Rowland Perrau, 5th Section Railway Unit & 16th Australian Railway Operating Company, AIF; married to Edith Marion Donaldson whose mother Annie Donaldson nee Webster was an older half-sister to my Great-Great-Great-Grandmother Catherine Davies nee Williamson.
Lest We Forget.
From the Red Cross papers, The AIF Project
2nd Lt Robert Donlandson PERRAU
Killed in action, 11 June 1917.
Statement by late OC, B Company, 35th Bn: 'This Officer was attached to my command during the battle of MESSINES and was killed by shellfire in the frontline trenches in front of Ultimo Crater (in front of St. IVES) on 11.6.17. I can state definately (sic) that he was later buried in, as far as I remember, a small cemetry (sic) in the vicinity of PLOEGSTEERT WOOD. The place of burial I am not now certain of but the burial was carried out, I believe, by Chaplin (sic) OSBORNE (Anglican), who was at that time attached to [the] 35th Bn, and whom I last heard of as being attached to No. 2 Command Depot, Weymouth.'
Grave was lost in subsequent fighting.
Click images to start slideshow.