Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Mayman was born in January 1894 in London, UK, and lived in Brisbane, Queensland. He worked as a farm labourer and lived alone. Robert’s religion was Church of England and he was not married. He had a sister called Alice Fuller who lived in Islington, London, UK and a father called Robert Albert Mayman, who worked as a picture frame maker. Before enlisting in WWI, Robert served 1 ½ years in the 21st London Regiment in the 1st Surrey Rifles. He was 21 years and seven months when he enlisted and was 5 foot 3 ¾ inches. Robert weighed around 49 pounds or 22.5 kg and was of dark complexion with brown eyes and brown hair. He also had a distinctive mark over his right eye.

On the 16th of August 1915, Robert Mayman enlisted in Linmore, NSW. He enlisted as a private with the 11th Reinforcements in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment. On the 4th of October 1915, he travelled to Egypt on the HMAT A47 Mashobra. On the 14th of January 1916, he was at Wardan, a place near Cairo, Egypt. Robert’s first job as a private was to protect the Nile Valley from pro-Turkish Senussi Arabs. On the 8th of April, he became severely sick and was sent to Assuit, on the Nile. On the 2nd of May, he was sent back to duty in Sohag, more south along the Nile. On the 11th of May, Robert became slightly sick and was sent to Assuit, returning to duty on the 17th. On the 18th of May, he and his regiment started defending the Suez Canal. On the 14th of August, Robert and his regiment played a large role in the Battle of Romani, helping to push back the Turks. On the 29th of October, he was attached to the Australian Training Centre and Details Camp and stayed in Moascar. On the 3rd of July 1917, Robert was taken on strength and became part of the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance in Moascar. On the 17th of August, he was attached to the Camel Brigade Field Ambulance in Abbassia. On the 16th of October, Robert got his wisdom tooth extracted and returned to duty on the 18th. On the 25th of February 1918, he was attached to the 14th Australian General Hospital in Port Said. He travelled to and from Rafa and Abbassia and later left for England on the H.T. Caledonia from Port Said. Robert did not get promoted and or wounded.

On the 1st of May, after the war ended, Robert Mayman travelled to England, where most of his family lived. He lived at 11 Culross Road, West Green, Middlesex and became a printer. On the 9th of June 1919, Robert married Kathleen Ada Davis (now Mayman) who lived at 13 Culross Road, West Green. On the 9th of August, he and his wife sailed back to Australia on the H.T. Ceramic, and he was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on the 5th of October. Robert and his wife lived at 227 Parade, Norwood, South Australia. He had a child whose initials are K. S. Smith (nèe Mayman), who lived in Aldinga, South Australia.

Robert Mayman, was a very skilled and brave man. He was very skilled both in the field and out of the field. He was a very good shooter and also had some medical experience, seeing as he was in the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance as well as the 14th Australian General Hospital. He fought proudly for Australia, England and the Commonwealth. Robert Mayman was a very good man, and his descendants should be proud.

Bibliography

AIF Project n.d., Robert Mayman, UNSW, Canberra, accessed 27 March 2017, https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=192319

Australian War Memorial n.d., First World War Embarkation Rolls: Robert Mayman, Australian Government, Canberra, accessed 27 March 2017, https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R2025391/

Australian War Memorial n.d., 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment, Australian Government, Canberra, accessed 27 March 2017, https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U51036/

National Archives of Australia 2004, Robert Mayman, Australian Government, Canberra, accessed 27 March 2017, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/NameSearch/Interface/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=8215983

2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment Embarkation Roll, 11th Reinforcements 2006, Australian Light Horse Research, accessed 27 March 2017, http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1959003/2nd-australian-light-horse-regiment-embarkation-roll-11th-reinforcements/

‘Robert Mayman Records’ 2004, in Robert Mayman Records, accessed 27 March 2017, National Archives of Australia, Australian Government.