Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert George Wilby was born at Dowling Street, Paddington, NSW, in 1884. He was the youngest of nine children to Joseph and Margaret Wilby. At 21 he married Elsie Prudence May Gowenlock. They had two children: Sylvia born in 1907 and Harold born in 1911. The family lived at 48 Grafton Street, Woollahra, NSW, and Robert was working as a tram driver at the age of 30 when he joined the war effort on 22 September 1914.

On 20 October 1914, as a private in the First Field Ambulance, he left Sydney aboard the HMAT Euripidies. He spent Christmas 1914 in a training camp with other diggers at Mena, near the pyramids of Egypt. In April 1915 he went to Gallipoli, however there is no information about his service there.

On 22 July 1916, while serving as a stretcher bearer on the western front in France, he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and right arm. He was transported to Woodcote Park Hospital, England, and the repatriation hospital at Perham Down before returning to France in early 1917.

On 12 June 1917 Robert Wilby returned to Australia aboard the Wiltshire, serving on board as a medical orderly to the injured soldiers. He was discharged from service on 3 August 1917 upon his return to Australia. He received the British War Medal, the 1914-15 Star, and the Victory Medal.

Robert Wilby lived with his wife Elsie at their family home ‘Mimosa’ at 100 Roscoe Street Bondi. The home still stands today. Elsie died at the home in 1954. Robert died there in 1958.

Lest we forget.