SALISBURY, Robert
| Service Number: | 6389 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 25th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | South Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Belgium, 4 October 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Menin Road South Military Cemetery Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Dec 1916: | Involvement Private, 6389, 25th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Dec 1916: | Embarked Private, 6389, 25th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Sydney |
Help us honour Robert Salisbury's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
In October 1916 Robert Salisbury, an architect from Brisbane, enlisted with the Australian Imperial Forces. Robert was assigned to the 25th Battalion and sailed for England in December 1916.
Prior to Robert’s arrival the 25th Battalion had been involved in the Battle of Pozieres and the second battle of Bullecourt. The battalion’s next major offensive action was at the Battle of Menin Road (20-25 September 1917). However, Robert's diaries reveal that he was not involved in this action, rather he and some of his battalion were sent to a ‘reorganisation’ camp at Fletre. Robert re-joined his battalion in late September.
On 4 October 1917 the 25th battalion took part in the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge. The objective was to make an advance of 1,600 metres from Zonnebeke and up the Broodseinde Ridge. The campaign was successful with allied troops moving beyond the first objective, capturing field guns along the way, and reaching their final objective east of Broodseinde village in good time. Despite being considered a success, this action resulted in 20,000 British and Commonwealth casualties.
Robert Salisbury was one of the casualties this day, receiving gunshot wounds to both of his legs. He was evacuated to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, but died the same day. His body was buried at Menin Road South Military Cemetery near Ypres.
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