GEDDES, Robert Roy
| Service Number: | 2485 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Parkes, New South Wales, Australia, 10 August 1897 |
| Home Town: | Parkes, Parkes, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Postal assistant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 15 May 1918, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Parkes & District Cenotaph, Parkes District Roll of Honor, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2485, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2485, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 15 May 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2485, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2485 awm_unit: 17th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-05-15 |
Help us honour Robert Roy Geddes's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Robert Roy Geddes was a postal assistant, from Parkes NSW. His father was Colin Geddes of Cecil St. Parkes NSW. Robert left Australia in October 1915 and was TOS 17th Battalion in Alexandria Egypt 5 February 1916, disembarking in Marseilles France 23 March 1916. Robert was WIA 15 April 1917, a GSW to the right buttock, transferred back to England for treatment, proceeded back to France 17 January 1918, rejoining his unit in France 22 January 1918. He was appointed Lance Corporal 9 March 1918, before he was KIA 15 May 1918, at only 21 years of age, "shot by a sniper and death was instantaneous. He was buried near the Bray-Corbie road, and the approximate map reference of the grave is K19 central". signed by a Major, Acting CO of the 17th Battalion. However, his grave was subsequently lost and he is now remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux France
Western Champion (Parkes, NSW : 1898 - 1934), Thursday 20 June 1918, page 11
PRIVATE ROBERT ROY GEDDES.
The following additional particulars concerning this gallant young soldier, whose death was reported recently in these columns are to hand. Private Geddes was born in Parkes on the 10th August 1897, and was consequently just 20. years and 10 months old. He was the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Colin Geddes, now residing at Woollahra. He was educated at the Parkes Superior Public School, and after leaving school obtained a position as telephonist in the local Post Office. He was very keen member of the cadets and later the citizens force, holding the position of lieutenant in the latter. Soon after the war broke out Private Geddes enlisted and being under the age of 18 had to get his parent's written consent. After being in camp at Liverpool for a few days; he was made sergeant of his company. He left for Egypt in the transport Themistocles with the 17th Battalion of the 5th Brigade, on the 5th October. 1915. When home on his final leave he was entertained by the members of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church having been a member of the church choir and a teacher in the Sunday School.
Private Geddes remained in Egypt for a few months before he was sent to France where he was wounded and was in Hospital in England for eight months. He was in the firing line in France for over two years and went through all the great battles there. He had
many narrow escapes, on one occasion he got a sniper's bullet through his helmet and another grazed his leg, while his mate was killed beside him. He finally fell while in action on the 15th May last.
Private Geddes was a loveable lad, liked by all who knew him, of high principle, and it is sad to think that such a promising young life has been sacrificed. But the sacrifice was a noble one, and in spite of their heavy blow his parents must feel proud of the splendid end of their gallant son. The late Private Geddes' only brother, Jack, has been a prisoner in the hands of the Germans for about two years.
Click images to start slideshow.