Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Venables Garden was born in May of 1894 in Norword, South Australia as second son of John Haven Garden and Ada Walsh Garden of “Llandower,” Payneham, situated in the Adelaide region. He was raised in the area for the majority of his life whilst attending the Norwood Primary School. At twelve years of age Robert won at Norwood school a three-year scholarship to the Pupil Teachers’ School, however, on the advice of then director of education he did not take advantage of it. The following year Robert would become the dux of his school, winning a gold medal in academics and another scholarship entitling him to a year at preparatory school as well as three years at the School of Mines, eventually resulting in the securement of his diploma and position as an associate member of the school for a time. Robert would further then be appointed as a draftsman on the Southern mine at Broken Hill, which he would work as until his enlistment as a soldier on the 27th of April 1915. Robert Garden’s complexion at the time of enlistment was described as fair, with features of brown hair and eyes, waist measurement of 78.7 – 86.3 centimeters, slightly below average total weight of 64 kilograms and slightly above average height of aproximately 179 centimeters for the time. His religious ideology was congregational.

After enlisting in the 10th Infantry Battalion on the 27th of April 1915 Robert Garden would shortly embark after basic training four months later for active service on the ship H.M.A.T P.&0. “Morea” docked at Adelaide on the 26th of August 1915. The ship was originally intended to arrive at Gallipoli on the island of Lemnos as part of the 8th reinforcement for the current ANZAC presence, however, during the 3-month long sail the battalion force had already planned the evacuation of Gallipoli due to the failed offensives over the opposing troops and resulting heavy casualties. This culminated in a swift change of course after arriving at Lemnos on November 25th with the H.M.A.T Morea shortly evacuating along with the rest of the 10th Infantry Battalion between December 15th to the 20th. Robert was acting Sergeant during the sail to Lemnos, taken on strength and reverting to ranks upon arrival with the rest of this battalion.

Robert and the 10th battalion would then re-embark to Egypt to aim for the military base the ANZACs in the Gallipoli campaign had previously utilized to regroup, reevaluate and prepare for their next offensive, arriving shortly at Alexandria on December 29th. During Robert’s time at the military camp, he would train intensively in the unforgiving Egyptian climate earning him a series of promotions over the coming months. Robert was first promoted to Lance Corporal on the 24th of January 1916, subsequently receiving another promotion to Corporal on the 1st of March and lastly facilitating a recommendation for promotion to the rank of Sergeant later that month on the 23rd of March. Within this time the 10th infantry battalion would set sail for the Western Front of France to help regain military control of the area. Now moving into the heart of the Western Front they would engage in grueling trench warfare with the first major action of the 10th infantry battalion taking a key role in the Battle of Poziéres in northern France.

In the early morning of the 23rd of July, the Australian troops began their offensive as they crept into no mans land evading the German bombardment of the trenches behind them and rushing the German fortification. It was here that Robert Venables Garden was likely killed in action during the early morning of July 23rd, 1916, within the first offensive of the Battle of Poziéres along with over 20000 other Australian troops that would sadly perish during the entirety of this costly battle. His cause of death was most likely due to machine gun fire or artillery bombardment from the defending German troops; however, his definitive cause of death is ultimately unknown.  

After Robert Garden’s unfortunate passing both of his parents Mrs. Ada Garden and Mr. J. Hazen Garden were notified and were sent some of his personal possessions from the war including part of his military kit and scarf as remembrance. Robert Venables Garden held the ranking of sergeant at the time of his death and was awarded the 1914 – 1915 Star, British war medal and Victory medal, all of which were also held in possession by his parents.