Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The eldest of seven children, Robert was born in Albany WA in 1916. His parents - Alfred Clarence Prior (b1885 in Albany WA) and Alice Marion Pimm (b1889 in Melbourne, Victoria) married in Midland WA in 1915. Alice had arrived in Fremantle WA in 1897 with her parents and siblings on board the Innamincka. Alice's father had served in India with the Royal Engineers until 1881 when he moved his family to Melbourne, Victoria. Alfred was a Labourer in Albany WA when he married, and he and Alice settled in Albany where he was a Wool Merchant. In the early 1920s Alfred and Alice relocated with their family to Perth WA, where Alfred was a Carrier.

In 1939 Robert was a student Baptist Pastor in Pingelly WA. He enlisted in January 1941(W9255) with 16 Battalion and transferred to the AIF in May 1941 (Private; Service No:WX13189). He was Discharged to Essential Services in July 1944 and was a Clerk in Perth WA when he re-enlisted in the AIF in October 1944 (Private; Service No:WX22994). Albert served as a Nursing Orderly with 2nd/7th Field Ambulance, and was hospitalised with epilepsy. He served in the Middle East (29 September 1941 - 29 March 1942), New Guinea (29 December 1944 - 5 December 1945) and 60 Mile in the Northern territory (10 June 1942 - 20 June 1943). Robert was Discharged in March 1946. 

In 1944 Robert married Gladys Ethel Jauncey (b1918 in Herefordshire, England) - Gladys, a Nurse at Royal Perth Hospital, had emigrated with her parents and siblings in 1924, arriving in Fremantle WA on board the Omar. Robert and Gladys settled in Perth WA before moving to Victoria in the 1950s - Robert was a Public Servant. Robert died in 2008 and Gladys in 2015.