S11531
MCGLASHAN, Robert
| Service Numbers: | 656, S71969 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
| Born: | Carrieton, South Australia, 31 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Salisbury, Salisbury, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Adelaide High School |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Memorials: | Adelaide High School Great War Honour Board, Adelaide National Australia Bank WW1 Honour Board, Salisbury & District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 656 | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 656, 27th Infantry Battalion, at Keswick | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 656, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 656, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Nov 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 656, 27th Infantry Battalion, GSW left arm | |
| 6 Apr 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Staff Sergeant, 656, 27th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 24 Apr 1942: | Involvement Private, S71969 | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Crystal Brook, SA | |
| 24 Apr 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, S71969 | |
| 20 Jun 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, S71969, 6th (SA) Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) |
The Great Uncle I never met
Robert McGlashan was born on 31 July 1897 at Carrieton, South Australia and died on 15 April 1977. His ashes were interred at Centennial Park. Although I was in my early 20s when he lived in Toorak Gardens (a suburb of South Australia), his brother, Dr John Eric McGlashan - my grandfather - moved to Perth in the 1930s and died in 1942, twelve years before I was born. Disappointingly, I had never heard of Robert until I started researching my McGlashan family history in the 1980s.
I was, however, able to locate Jean Mahood (nee McGlashan), the third of the three children born to John and Emma McGlashan (nee Whitford). Jean shared a family tale that her brother, Robert ran away to enlist in the AIF at the age of 16 and served briefly at Gallipoli and later in France, where he was wounded. She gave me a little booklet that Robert wrote while recuperating in Kent. It is titled 'A Strangers Guide to Dartford and Districts'. A transcript appears at left: it so funny and shows that Robert had a keen sense of humour.
In fact, Robert enlisted in the AIF as a 17 year old in World War I, and as a 44 year old in World War II. His father, John provided a letter of consent to his first under-age enrolment but Robert's attestation papers incorrectly state his age as 18 years and 2 months. Perhaps this is why there were originally two records for Robert on this site.
Robert's active service casualty forms show various hospitalisations in Egypt, France, Malta and England for influenza, mumps, gunshot wounds (three on the left arm and one on the left thumb), jaundice and dysentery. Great Aunt Jean also told me that my grandfather, John Eric was sent to war to look after his younger brother. Perhaps this is suggested in Robert's records. A letter to the AIF states that Robert's sickness in Malta had caused his mother continued anxiety that was affecting her health.
Robert married Beryl Maud Gill on 13 September 1924. They had no children, perhaps due to Robert's illness with mumps.
In World War I Robert had enlisted as a bank clerk and when he duly enlisted again in World War II, he enlisted as a bank manager. His dark hair by then had turned grey. It is interesting to note that he refused a promotion from the rank of Private. Fortunately, his age cohort was not called up.
In 1967 Robert applied for the Anzac Commemorative Medallion and Lapel Badge. He stated he served as a private at Gallipoli.
Lest We Forget.
Submitted 2 April 2025 by gail dodd
Click images to start slideshow.