ERWOOD, Robert Henry
| Service Number: | 2049 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Machine Gun Company |
| Born: | Barham, NSW, December 1885 |
| Home Town: | Koondrook, Gannawarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Kia - Sw To Head On Front Line, France - Pozieres in front of Mouquet Farm, 21 August 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Koondrook War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2049, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 2049, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 2049, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 9 May 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
| 14 Aug 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 6th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Private, 6th Infantry Battalion, reverted to ranks - not reason specified | |
| 18 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Machine Gun Company | |
| 1 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2nd Machine Gun Company | |
| 28 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Machine Gun Company, Court Martial - reduced to ranks - absent from billets |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From AWM
2049 Private Robert Henry Erwood who served in 2 Machine Gun Company during the First World War. Erwood was born in NSW in 1886 and was a labourer until his enlistment in the AIF on 23 September 1914. He trained in Egypt and in April 1915 proceeded to Gallipoli. In August he was transferred to Lemnos for a period of rest. In early 1916, he returned to Egypt for further training. On 25 March 1916 his battalion was posted in France. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 1 April but later that month was reduced to the ranks as punishment for being absent from his billet without the proper authority. He was killed in action on 21st August 1916, and is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Cemetery in France.
This is the Certified letter by Cpl H Anquetol (London 12/2/1917). (Red Cross file)
I might state the Prte Erwood left Australia with me, and I am sorry to say that he was with me and the I was in charge of his gun when he met his death. He was one of a party of four who volunteeredd to man a MG in a very dangerous part of the line. He was a man of short build, always clean shaven and had a light complextion. He told me he had a sister nursing with the AIF and also had a married sister named Mrs Pickering living in WA. I might state that I wrote to Mrs Pickering and gave her a fill account of her brother's death. If I remember correctly he told me that his people reside in a place called Barham and that is occupation was an Engine Driver. I am very please dot say that his comrades gave him a good burial under the circumstances. I will get one of the men that was with me at the time of Pte Erwood's death to sign his name at the bottom of the letter. I will be only too pleased at any time to supply any information that will convince his relatives on this point. Cpl H Anquet 2nd MG Coy, AIF 20/1/1917 (F Casey also signed the letter)
Cpl AR Pegler 2644 (later Lt Arthur Richard Pedlar, MC, also recommended for MM but not awarded) stated that he was Pte Erwood was killed in front of Mouquet Farm around 7.45pm.
Pte R Torbitt 770 (KIA 10/8/1918) sated that just before that were to be relived a shell burst in the trench and exploded a box of boms where were close to Erwood. A piece of bomb struck him in the head klilling him instantly. We were able to bury him outside the trench, marking the grave with a cross, stating his name, rank and number. His section officer (killed the previous morning) always spoke highly of him.
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