DUNCAN, Robert Travers
| Service Number: | 850 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 7th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bendigo, Victoria, Australia, July 1895 |
| Home Town: | Long Gully, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miller |
| Memorials: | Bendigo Great War Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 850, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 850, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 850, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 850, 7th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, GSW to left foot | |
| 8 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 850, 7th Infantry Battalion, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli, Bomb wound to left hand. Invalided to Australia 31 October 1915. | |
| 12 May 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 850, 7th Infantry Battalion, Medically unfit (left hand) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Larna Malone
Robert Travers Duncan was born in Bendigo, the son of Robert Travers & Annie Duncan, of Holdsworth Road, Long Gully. He was a Miller, employed at Messrs. Tomlins, Simmie and Co.’s Flour Mills, Bendigo. He was 19 years & 6 months old when he volunteered for service in the Expeditionary Force and had previously served in Senior Cadets and CMF. He Enlisted on 22/8/14 and arrived at Broadmeadows Camp on 24/8/14. He was allotted Service no. 850 and appointed to ‘G’ Company, 7th Battalion.
Prior to embarkation he was presented with a memento by the Borough of Eaglehawk (either a Pocket wallet, wristlet watch, or shaving outfit)
The 7th Battalion left Broadmeadows Camp on 18 October, 1914, and embarked for service overseas on board HMAT ‘Hororata’. Arriving in Egypt the battalion moved into camp at Mena, at the foot of the pyramids. (6/12/14)
In January, 1915, the Australian force was re-organized. In the 7th Battalion ‘G’ and ‘H’ Companies joined to form the new ‘D’ Company. This meant that all the men from Northern Victoria were together in one Company.
The 7th Battalion was part of the force which landed at Anzac Cove on 25th April, 1915. Robert Travers Duncan was wounded during an advance across the 400 Plateau on 26/4/15, sustaining a GSW to his left foot. He rejoined the battalion on 31/5/15.
On August 8th the 7th Battalion moved into position at Lone Pine, preparing to participate in a Diversionary attack on the Turkish trenches on the 400 Plateau. ‘D’ Company, under Lieut. W. J. Symons, was on the left, manning the line from Wood’s Post to Goldenstedt’s Post. Heavy fighting ensued with multiple casualties.
Robert Travers Duncan was Wounded (2nd occasion) 8-9/8/15, sustaining a Bomb wound to his left hand. He RTA M.U. on 31/10/15.
“The First Lot. 7th Battalion. The first men of the Bendigo district to volunteer for service in the First World War.”: Larna Malone
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