Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The story of Bob and Sam Cameron, two brothers from the hills in Gippsland is a tale of brotherly devotion.

Robert John Cameron was the second born of seven Cameron children. The siblings were four girls and three boys with Bob the second born and Samuel Henry the fourth. Their parents Harry and Annie Cameron were from Belfast in Northern Ireland, they had settled in the rolling green hills of Mt Best near Toora North in Gippsland a rugged but incredibly beautiful place with breathtaking views over Wilsons Promontory in Victoria.

The Cameron children went to Toora Upper school then Mt Best School once it opened and were present on the day the infamous 1906 fires went through, the heroic efforts of their teacher Harry Vale saved them. Mr Vale sheltered 28 children under a log and covered them with wet blankets. Nearby 6 children died of suffocation at their home.

Bob enrolled at Leongatha in D company in the 37th Battalion on March 8th 1916 after his training he embarked on HMAS Australia from Melbourne 3rd June that year when he was 24 yers old and arrived in Plymouth England on 25th July 1916 for training. Bob dutifully wrote to his Aunt and Uncle in Belfast when he first arrived in England. His mother would have insisted he get in contact with them.
Once his training was done in England he was sent to serve with the 37th battalion in France. Within a month Bob caught the mumps and was admitted to hospital for a few weeks.

Meanwhile a few months later younger brother Sam enlisted at Leongatha (on 8th November 1916) and made a similar journey. Sam was sent by ship to England in December 1916 where he also trained at Hurdcott.

Sam and Bob were told to look after each other by their mother Annie. Both served in France and were closely positioned much of the time in the 37th battalion – Bob was in D company and Sam in C company.

Bob was the first to visit his Belfast relatives in early 1917, their little cousin Maybeth was a small child (not 10) but remembers the evening her big cousin Bob arrived. She was at a concert with her school friend’s family at Carrickfergus. A friend of her older brother told her at the concert that a big soldier who was her Australian cousin was at her home. She couldn’t wait to get home to meet him. She remembers Bob putting her on his knee and her being smitten with him. He was always friendly and kind to her. All the Camerons were impressed with this thoughtful and considerate man who became popular with everyone there. She said he had a very straight and honest look in his eyes. She said he was tall with dark hair.

Maybeth said Bob and Sam visited whenever they made it to England during their service. They would have had to catch a train from Hurdcott (Wiltshire) to Stranraer in SW Scotland then steamer ferry to Larne and train to Carrickfergus. If they left early they might get there late at night.

Sam’s first visit was to his uncle Gibson and Auntie Jean Cameron’s home, it was on a Sunday evening and two of the three children were home alone while their parents and older brother were at church. Sam arrived and the kids entertained him until the rest of the family returned from church.

Sam was more happy-go-lucky and like a big school boy. Auntie Jean pointed out two old willow pattern plates that sat on the mantle over the fireplace and said they were 100 year old heirlooms that belonged to granny Cameron. Sam said if they were that old they should be thrown out. Sam came from a farm on Mt Best that was regularly burnt out so material things were possibly not that important to him. Little cousin Maybeth recalled Sam went to church on Sunday evenings with the family and had a lovely singing voice.

Aunt Jean looked after the brothers as would have been expected by their mother back home, she made simple underwear for the boys out of muslin which were soaked in parrafin oil then dried, they would have worn these to discourage lice while in the trenches.

In early 1917, Bob was sent temporarily to the 3rd Division which was heavily involved in raiding the German trenches; upon his return, the 37th battalion the brothers helped chase the Germans to the Hindenburg line. The 37th Battalion then joined the great offensive launched to the east of Ypres in Belgium. It was during 1917 that Bob became a lance corporal.

In August 1918 the 37th battalion were located at Kate Wood on the Somme River. Sam was shot in the jaw on 24th August 1918 and evacuated to England to recover (L.24.a.35.50 to L.18.a.0.45). A few days later at Clery Copse Bob suffered a gunshot wound to his left wrist and was also sent to England to recover (H.4.b.and d). We can only speculate about this coincidence.

Bob kept an eye on his younger brother Sam while they recovered. While the brothers were convalescing the war concluded, it looked like both had made it through safely and would return home.

Tragically the influenza epidemic went through and like many at the time Bob caught it. Aunty Jean in Belfast sent letters to the matron while Bob was ill. The matron commented in her letters back that she could understand the family’s concern for Bob because even from her position and in her busy role she could see how exceptional a young man Bob was. Bob died on 15th December 1918 - he was only 27. Bob and Sam’s cousin Billy aged 17 and their uncle Gibson travelled to Sutton Veny for Bob’s funeral.

The news found its way home to Bob and Sam’s parents via telegram. Younger brother Dave recalled the minister from the church coming down the driveway with the telegram and his mother crying because she knew one of her boys was gone.

Sam made a full recovery and eventually was shipped home in March 1919. He lived a long life in South Gippsland married and had three children.