RESSO, Robert William
| Service Number: | 1722 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 54th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | North Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Wagga Wagga, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Labourer |
| Died: | GSW Right leg, compound fracture , Cheltenham V.A.D. Hospital (affiliated with 2nd South General Hospital), Bristol, England, 25 September 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, Prestbury, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wagga Wagga Cenotaph, Wagga Wagga Victory Memorial Arch |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 1722, 55th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 1722, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 25 Sep 1918: | Involvement Private, 1722, 54th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1722 awm_unit: 54th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-09-25 |
Help us honour Robert William Resso's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Robert William Resso was born at William Street, North Wagga Wagga, NSW in 1893 to parents Robert Bartholomew Resso and Rebecca Resso (nee Dunn).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 1st December, 1915 as a 22 year old, single, Railway Labourer from Wagga Wagga, NSW.
Private Robert William Resso, Service number 1722, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 14th April, 1916 with the 55th Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements & disembarked at Port Said on 16th May, 1916.
On 16th June, 1916 Private Resso joined 54th Battalion from 2nd Reinforcements of 55th Battalion at Ismailia.
He embarked on H. T. Caledonian from Alexandria on 19th June, 1916 to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 29th June, 1916.
Private Resso was sent to Field Ambulance from his Unit on 30th October, 1916. He was transferred to 21st Casualty Clearing Station then transferred to No. 18 Ambulance Train on 3rd November, 1916. Private Resso was admitted to 9th General Hospital, at Rouen, France on 4th November, 1916 with Trench Feet. He was transferred from Rouen for Hospital Ship on 6th November, 1916 & embarked for England from Havre on Hospital Ship Panama on 11th November, 1916.
On 8th December, 1916 Private Resso was transferred from Graylingwell War Hospital to 2nd Auxiliary Hospital at Southall with Trench Feet. He was discharged from 2nd Auxiliary Hospital to Headquarters for Furlough on 12th December, 1916. Private Resso was marched in from Southall Hospital to No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset, England on 12th December, 1916.
He was written up for an Offence while at No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham, Dorset, England - 1. A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from 3 pm on 27th December, 1916 to 5 pm on 28th December, 1916. 2. Urinating in Lines. He was awarded 48 hours Detention & was in custody awaiting trial 1 day on 5th January, 1917. Total forfeiture – 5 days’ pay.
Private Resso was transferred to 61st Battalion on 23rd March, 1917 from 55th Battalion while posted at Wareham.
On 12th September, 1917 Private Resso was transferred to 54th Battalion. He proceeded overseas to France on 12th September, 1917 to reinforce the 54th Battalion. Private Resso was marched in to 3rd A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Havre, France on 13th September, 1917. He was marched out to his Unit on 2nd October, 1917 & joined his Unit in France on 2nd October, 1917.
Private Robert William Resso was wounded in action on 17th October, 1917. He was admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance then transferred & admitted to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station on 17th October, 1917 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to left arm & abdomen. Private Resso was transferred to Ambulance Train on 17th October, 1917 & admitted to 22nd General Hospital at Camiers, France on 19th October, 1917. He was transferred to England on 28th October, 1917.
He was admitted to 2nd Eastern General Hospital at Brighton, England on 28th October, 1917 with gunshot wounds to arm, abdomen & side – severe. He was transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield on 13th December, 1917 then discharged to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire, England on 22nd December, 1917.
On 23rd December, 1917 Private Resso was marched in to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire, England from 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield.
Private Resso was medically classified as B1 A1 (fit for light duty only) on 13th February, 1918 while posted at Hurdcott, Wiltshire, England. He was classified as B1 A2 (fit for overseas training camp in three or four weeks) on 22nd February, 1918 & much improved & classified as B1 A3 (fit for overseas training camp in two to three weeks) on 15th March, 1918. Private Resso was classified as B1 A4 (fit for overseas training camp when passed dentally fit) on 18th March, 1918.
He was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire on 23rd March, 1918.
A District Court Martial was held at Longbridge Deverill on 11th May, 1918 - Private Robert William Resso was charged with being “AWL from 23/4/18 until arrested at Longbridge Deverill on 24/4/18.” The Court found Private Resso guilty & he was sentenced to 96 hours detention from 11th May, 1918 – not confirmed.
On 22nd May, 1918 Private Resso proceeded overseas to France from Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill. He was marched in to A.I.B.D. (Australian Infantry Base Depot) at Havre, France from England on 24th May, 1918. He was marched out to his Unit on 26th May, 198 & rejoined his Unit (54th Battalion) in France on 6th June, 1918.
He was transferred to 55th Battalion (no date). Private Resso was transferred back to 54th Battalion on 16th June, 1918.
Private Robert William Resso was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 1st September, 1918. He was admitted to 6th Field Ambulance then transferred & admitted to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station the same day with shrapnel wounds to right leg. Private Resso was transferred & admitted to 12th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 2nd September, 1918 with shrapnel wounds to right leg. He embarked for England from Rouen on 11th September, 1918.
On 12th September, 1918 Private Resso was admitted to Voluntary Aid Hospital, Cheltenham, England (affiliated with 2nd South General Hospital, Bristol) with gunshot wounds to right leg – dangerously ill.
Private Robert William Resso died at 6.30 am on 25th September, 1918 at Cheltenham V.A.D. Hospital (affiliated with 2nd South General Hospital, Bristol) from wounds received in action – “GSW Right leg, compound fracture.” (Note – the Hospital Admissions form has stamp of “Priory Hospital, Cheltenham.”)
He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery, Gloucestershire, England and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.
According to information provided by his father for the Roll of Honour, Robert William Resso was one of eight cousins who enlisted in World War 1 – seven of them “paid the supreme sacrifice.”
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/cheltenham.html
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