CHURCH, Robert Henry
| Service Numbers: | 2595, 2595A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St James, Victoria, January 1892 |
| Home Town: | Tungamah, Moira, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Broodseinde Ridge, Belgium, 4 October 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" No known grave, Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Tungamah War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2595 | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2595, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2595, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 2595A, 7th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2595A awm_unit: 7 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1917-10-04 |
Help us honour Robert Henry Church's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born January 1892 in St James, Victoria
Father John Church
(b. 10/6/1856 Benalla, VIC - d. 15/07/1936 Tungamah, VIC) and
Mother Mary Ann Church (nee Smith)
(b. 18/09/1857 Winchelsea, VIC - d. 29/01/1935 at her son's residence, Corowa, NSW)
lived at Bernda Street, Tungamah, Victoria
Next of kin in service: (brother)
8804 Farrier Sergeant William Maroney CHURCH - 5th Field Artillery Brigade
(b. 10/10/1896 St James, VIC)
17/08/1915 enlisted in Tungamah, place of enlisting Melbourne, VIC
16/11/1915 embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A39 Port Macquarie
as a Driver with 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column
27/04/1919 returned to Australia onboard
02/08/1919 discharged from service
Siblings (10):
Thomas Leman Church (b. 1890 St James - d. 17/02/1956 Frankston, VIC)
m. Margaret Elsie Church (nee Taylor b. 1891 - d. 1972)
Mary Ann Church (Annie) (b. 1885 Lake Rowan, VIC - d. 1969 Canterbury, VIC)
m. Albert Fell (b. 03/03/1885 Tungamah, VIC - d. 01/10/1948 boiler explosion, Hawthorn, VIC)
John Bernard Church
Eleanor Jane (Nellie) Church
Joseph Gabriel Church
Robert Henry Church (b. Jan. 1892 St James, VIC - d. 04/10/1917 Belgium)
Frances Elizabeth Church (Mrs Pugsley)
Alice Amelia Church (Mrs Locke)
Charles Leslie Church
Robert was described on enlisting as 23 years 6 months of age; single; 5' 9.25" tall;
150 lbs; fair complexion; blue eyes; light brown hair; Church of England
13/07/1915 enlisted in Tungamah, place of enlisting Melbourne, VIC
13/10/1915 appointed to 6th reinforcements, 22nd Battalion, Broadmeadows Camp
27/10/1915 embarked Port of Melbourne, VIC onboard HMAT A38 Ulysses
as a Private with 22nd Battalion, 6th Reinforcement
17/01/1916 sick with bronchitis - admitted to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis
03/02/1916 discharged to duty, 3 February 1916.
24/02/1916 taken on strength, 7th Infantry Battalion, Serapeum
17/03/1916 sick to hospital - 2nd Field Ambulance
17/03/1916 discharged to lines, rejoiing 7th Infantry Battalion
26/03/1916 embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force
31/03/1916 disembarked into Marseilles, France
24/07/1916 wounded in action - shell shock
27/07/1916 admitted to 11th General Hospital, Camiers
06/09/1916 rejoined 7th Battalion, Belgium
11/11/1916 sick with pyrexia - admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance, in the field
18/04/1917 rejoined unit, France
24/08/1917 on furlo (leave) to England
06/09/1917 rejoined unit in France
04/10/1917 hit by a shell and killed instantly - received in action
at Broodseinde, Ypres, Belgium
14/02/1918 stated by 4021 Corporal William White- 7th Battalion
"Whilst waiting with several others of his unit in a shell hole at the
rear of the then front line, waiting for the word to move forward
(hop over) to the attack, Robert and the others were killed instantly
from a shell, in the head, stomach and chest."
No known grave
His name is commemorated on:-
- Panel 7 of The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
- Panel 49 of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
Medals: 1914/15 Star (20346); British War medal (26619); Victory medal (26443)
Memorial Plaque and Scroll (347192)
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 17/01/2017. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.