Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert was the second of three children of Hubert (Larry) Lawrence Anthony (b1897 in Warren, NSW) and Mary Jessie Stirling (b1899 in Ballina, NSW). Larry worked for the Post Master General's Department as a Telegraph Messenger before enlisting in the AIF in 1914. He served as a Sapper (Service No:521) in Gallipoli. In 1921 he and Mary married in Brisbane, QLD and Larry took up a settler-soldier block at Tweed Heads, NSW where he grew bananas and was Shire Councillor (1919 - 1922). In 1928 he founded the NSW Banana Growers' Federation and in 1937 was elected to the Federal Seat of Richmond (Country Party). Larry served as Minister for Transport (1941) and Post Master General (1949). Following Mary's death in 1941 Larry remarried in 1946 - Lyndall Marion Thornton (nee Ingram; b1920 in Guildford NSW). Larry resigned from politics in 1956 and died the following year. His son John Douglas Anthony, and John's son Larry also served in federal politics.

Anthony was a student at The King's College in Parramatta, Sydney NSW where he was a Sergeant in the Senior Cadets, a member of the 2nd XV (football) and a keen Rower and Athlete. In February 1943 he enlisted in the RAAF (Service No:433190) and served as a Pilot Officer and Flying Officer until his Discharge in February 1946. Anthony was described by his Commanding Officers as 'Bright and alert with plenty of personality and dash' and 'Good type, with leadership qualities. Smart appearance and bearing' (National Archives Australia).

In June 1946 Anthony married Mari Blane Morris (b1925 in Brisbane, QLD) in Brisbane. The couple initially tried Farming at Sunnyridge near Byron Bay, NSW, and by 1949 were living in Southport QLD where Robert worked as a Photographer. By 1954 they relocated to Banora Point, Tweed Heads, NSW where they settled and Robert worked as a Photographer. Robert died in 1997 and Mari in 2013.