S15771
REIDY, Robert Francis
| Service Number: | 7964 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 July 1917, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | Tunnelling Companies |
| Born: | Rutherglen, Victoria, 1 July 1870 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 21 May 1953, aged 82 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jul 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sapper, 7964, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Nov 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 7964, Tunnelling Companies, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Nov 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sapper, 7964, Tunnelling Companies, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne | |
| 15 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
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SAPPER ROBERT FRANCIS REIDY
7964 – 3rd Tunnelling Company
Robert Francis Reidy stated he was born in Rutherglen, Victoria on July 1, 1870 the son of Charles James and Elen Henrietta (nee Burns) Reidy. He said he had served twelve years with the Naval Reserve in England and two years and seven months in South Africa until his time expired.
As a Soldier of the Queen he enlisted as a Trooper No. 25602 with the South African Light Horse, a colonial unit of the Boer War. The South African Light Horse was raised in Cape Colony in November 1899 with eight complete squadrons raised by an early date in December that year. Trooper Reidy was discharged when his time expired on September 3, 1901 and returned to Melbourne, Vic from Cape Town on October 3, 1901 on the ship Afric, which departed from Liverpool, England under Captain James E. Carter. A list of the fourteen soldiers aboard was given in the:
Bendigo Advertiser Saturday September 28, 1901:
RETURNING SOLDIERS
The White Star steamer Afric, which will reach Melbourne from London and Capetown on Thursday next, has the following soldiers on board:—South African Light Horse—No. 25602, Trooper Reidy. Article abridged
In 1917 he married in Adelaide, S.A. to Selina Dean.
At the recruiting depot in Adelaide, South Australia on July 5, 1917 the forty-seven year old labourer applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination he was ‘accepted as a special recruit’ by the recruiting officer. Attestation Forms were completed showing personal particulars of his height of 168cms (5ft 6ins), weight 61.3kgs (135lbs) with a chest expansion of 88-92cms (34½-36ins). Complexion was medium with his hazel eyes testing to good vision is both eyes and brown going grey hair. Distinctive marks were five vaccination scars on the left arm and tattoos on both forearms. Religious faith was Roman Catholic. Next-of-kin was his wife Selina Reidy of 14 Churchell Street, Adelaide, S.A. He was sworn in the same day.
Basic training commenced with ‘B Coy’ as a Private at Mitcham camp on July 9 until allotted to ‘C Coy’ on July 16 remaining until August 15, 1917. He was assigned to the Tunnellers for further training before being transferred to their camp at Bendigo on September 6 where he joined the May 1917 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies. On November 2 they moved to camp at Seymour, Vic until November 20 preparing for departure. He made a Will which was filed with Military Records. The Reinforcement moved to Broadmeadows camp for an overnight stay before boarding their transport the next morning.
The troopship HMAT A71 Nestor departed Port Melbourne, Vic on November 21, 1917 with 168 Reinforcements on board. The voyage of twenty-five days duration terminated at the Suez on December 15, 1917 and the men disembarked going to the Australian Infantry Camp, Suez the same day.
They entrained for Alexandria on January 4, 1918 and marched into the Australian Camp, Gabbary, in Alexandria on January 5.
On January 9, 1918 the Reinforcements left Port Said aboard the H.M.T. B:102 Kashgar arriving at Taranto, Italy on January 20. Two days later Sapper Reidy was left in an Isolation ward in a hospital at Cherbourg, France while the others were entrained at Bordighira on January 27.
On January 31, 1918 the H.M.T. C.O.168 Mona’s Queen conveyed them across the English Channel where they disembarked at Southampton, England on February 2, 1918. A further entrainment completed their journey to Tidworth and they marched into No. 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse. Sapper Reidy joined them on February 19, 1918.
Mrs Reidy’s address changed to 242 Hindley Street, West Adelaide, S.A.
The Reinforcement proceeded to France on March 22, 1918 from Southampton marching into the Aust General Base Depot in Rouelles the next day. Two days later they moved to the Aust Corps Depot at Caestre and a day later left to join the 3rd Tunnelling Company at Pernois being taken on strength on May 26, 1918.
Three days later he went sick to hospital and returned on May 31, 1918. On June 10 he spent a day sick at hospital and had an overnight stay in hospital on the night of June 20.
He was with his unit when Peace was declared and the Tunnelling companies remained on the front as part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of their district by clearing roads and bridges and defusing booby traps left by the enemy.
Leave to Paris was granted from December 28 until January 2, 1919.
Orders were received on January 27, 1919 to prepare for demobilisation and to return to the Base Depot and they left the Aust Infantry Base Depot on February 1 and crossed the English Channel from France arriving at the Overseas Training Brigade camp the next day. On February 15 they moved to the No. 1 Command Depot to await their voyage home.
Sapper Reidy embarked as an invalid on March 31, 1919 on the H.T. Khyber for Australia. Base Records advised his wife on April 26, 1919 that he was on his way home at her address No. 2 Tennants Court, Adelaide. The ship docked in Adelaide (4th M.D.) on May 22, 1919. News of their arrival was reported in:
The Daily Herald Thursday May 22, 1919:
KHYBER TROOPS AND PASSENGERS
The Khyber’s contingent, consisting of 120 men and about 20 passengers, who have been in quarantine since their arrival on Friday May 9, owing to cases of smallpox breaking out during the voyage, will be landed at the Outer Harbour at 3.30 p.m. today.
Military Discharge was issued from Adelaide, (4th Military District) on June 15, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
The next day he was issued with a Statement of his Service which gave his service details and included he served one year and 346 days in Total Service and he was abroad for one year and 183 days.
A copy of his Will was forwarded to Military Records on October 3, 1919.
Sapper 7964 Robert Francis Reidy, 3rd Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (22109) and the Victory Medal (21479) for serving his country.
15 August 1917 - Robert married Selina Deane at the residence of Robert FranReidy, Adelaide
RSL Information
13 May 1919 - Joined the RSL
25 April 1925 - Transferred to Hindmarsh Sub Branch; residential addresses 6 Walsh Street, Southwark and 6 James Stree, Southwark
1 August 1936 - Transferred to State Branch; addresses 253 Wright Street, Adelaide, 14 Hocking Place, Adelaide
Badge S8963 lost