S9078
ATKINSON, Robert David
| Service Number: | 2569 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Yacka, South Australia, 28 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Cowell, Franklin Harbour, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farm Assistant |
| Died: | Whyalla, South Australia, 11 August 1964, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Whyalla Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Cowell Men from Franklin Harbour WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1916: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 2569, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 2569, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2569, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Son of James William ATKINSON and Annie nee ASHBY
Biography contributed by Cleve Area School
Robert David Atkinson was an Australian soldier during World War 1, Atkinson served overseas in France, his highest rank being a Lance Corporal. He enlisted on the 1st of February 1916 in Adelaide.
Atkinson was born on the 28th of July, 1897, in the region of Yacka, South Australia. He was the eldest son of James William Atkinson and Ann Shee Ashby and an adored older brother of Charles Blakeley Atkinson, who he served in World War 1 with. Atkinson was a practised Methodist. Before Atkinson enlisted to the military he worked as a farm assistant in the Cowell, South Australia district.
Robert David Atkinson enlisted in the Australian military aged 18 and 6 months, on the 1st of February 1916. He embarked from Adelaide on the 25th of March, 1916. Leaving Australia behind on the HMAT Shropshire A9, he travelled overseas to Alexandria for further training. He embarked from Alexandrai for Marseilles in France 20th June 1916, joining the 32nd Infantrty Battalion 29th July 1916.
He was hospitalised with scalded foot 8th September 1916 and received treatment over several months returning to his unit in February 1917. He served for several months without incident until taking leave from 16th August 1917 until 2nd September 1917 travelling to England.
Atkinson was promoted to Lance Corporal 10th December 1917.
He spent more time in hospital, sick with a fever from 9th May 1918 and was sent to England to recover. He returned to his unit 30th July 1918 and was wounded nearly a month later on the 29th September 1918 with a gun shot wound to his right arm and was sent to England for treatement. Due to his injury, he was invalided on 2nd October 1918. He began his return to Australia on 16th March 1919 disembarking 13th May 1919. Atkinson was discharged 27th of October, 1919.
After his return to Australia he created a life for himself, he married his spouse Violetina Minnie Atkinson. He died on the 11th of August 1964 at the age of 67, at Whyalla, South Australia,
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