CRAIG, Robert William
| Other Name: | Craig, Robert W - AWM - Murrays Boer War Nominal Roll |
|---|---|
| Service Numbers: | 530, 733 |
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1901, Enrolled in South Africa after arrival of 5th QIB. |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 1st Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1883 |
| Home Town: | Surry Hills, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Platelayer |
| Died: | Heidelberg, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia., 11 November 1957, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Cremated remains scattered at cemetery |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 530, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Dec 1901: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 530, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Enrolled in South Africa after arrival of 5th QIB. | |
| 1 Dec 1901: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 530, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 504 notes enrolled in South Africa. Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 149, notes his pay commenced from 6 Dec 1901. |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 733, 4th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 733, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 7 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 733, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Shrapnel wound right arm. | |
| 11 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 4th Infantry Battalion, Promoted at Gallipoli Peninsular. | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Corporal, 1st Machine Gun Company | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 733, 1st Machine Gun Company, Battle for Pozières , GSW to head | |
| 15 Sep 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 733, 1st Machine Gun Company, Third Ypres, GSW Left Leg and gangrene. | |
| 30 Jan 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 733, 1st Machine Gun Company, Embarked from England aboard HT A14 Euripides to return to Australia. | |
| 28 Sep 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 733, 1st Machine Gun Company |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- he is recorded as Robert W. Craig on Boer War service documents, and as Robert William Craig on WW1 service documents.
Robert William Craig served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 530, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Boer War. Second service was as a Private rising to Corporal S.N. 733, 4th Infantry Battalion/1st Machine Gun Company AIF, WW1.
Murray, in his compilation of the AWM Boer War Nominal Roll on p. 504 to 505, notes members of the 5th QIB who enrolled/enlisted in South Africa.
Robert W. Craig enrolled in South Africa with the 5th QIB and as such was not recorded on the original nominal roll for the 5th Queensland (Imperial Bushmen) Contingent held by National Archives. He was however, recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks of the 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 149, where it is noted his pay commenced from 6 Dec 1901, well after the 5th QIB had arrived on 1 Apr 1901. Its assumed he enrolled about 1 Dec 1901.
Unfortunately, the paybooks do not provide details on N.O.K. or address in Australia at the time of enlisting. The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, reported that 530, Private R. W. Craig, remained in South Africa for further service when the 5th QIB returned to Australia. The paybooks do not provide a location or date of discharge or return to Australia.
He enlisted again at Sydney in 1914 for WW1 and on his Attestation Paper, dated 4 Sep 1914, it is noted that; he was born in Melbourne and was 32 years 4 months of age; he was single and a platelayer; his N.O.K. was his cousin Miss. E. Craig, Malvern East, Melbourne, Victoria; and that he had previously served with the 5th QIB in South Africa. His entry in the AWM WW1 Embarkation Roll notes he was residing in Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW, when he enlisted.
Robert William Craig was born in 1883 at Carlton, Melbourne, a son to Stuart Douglas Craig and Frances Georgina Craig (nee Morris).
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 505; National Archives Australia- B 5172 Nominal Roll of 5th Queensland (Imperial Bushmen) Contingent Queensland Defence Force for service in South Africa; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 149; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record).