Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

McGREGOR Robert William  #1701   52nd Battalion
 
Robert McGregor was born in Rockhampton. He named his widowed mother, Mary McGregor of 150 William Street, Rockhampton as his next of kin. It is likely that Mary McGregor relied on her son for financial support. Robert gave his occupation as farmer and it is reasonable to assume that he was farming in the Gracemere district.
 
Robert presented himself for enlistment in Rockhampton on 17th January 1916. He was 28 years old, single and stated his religion as Catholic. The early months of 1916 coincided with a virtual doubling of the size of the AIF. In such circumstances restrictions on enlistment standards were relaxed which explains Robert’s acceptance, even though he was only 5’ 2” tall; a height that would have seen him rejected in 1914 and early 1915.
 
Robert was allotted as a reinforcement for the 52nd Battalion and embarked for Egypt on the “Moultan” in Sydney on 12th April. He had allotted 3/- of his daily pay to his mother. After a brief stay in Egypt, Robert boarded a transport for Plymouth where he was taken in to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford. While still at Codford, Robert overstayed leave by 2 days. He was confined to quarters for 6 days and lost 2 day’s pay.
 
Robert eventually joined up with his battalion on 13th October 1916. The battalion at this time was resting and reorganising after taking serious casualties at Mouquet Farm in August and September. The Australian divisions in France settled down for the winter, which proved to be one of the coldest on record and exposure to the elements made it particularly hard for men from warmer climates such as Robert.
 
The spring of 1917 saw a German tactical withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line with the allies in careful pursuit. In February 1917, Robert was sent to Trench Mortar School to become acquainted with a relatively new weapon, the Stokes trench mortar. He returned to his unit in time to take part in a short action at Neuriel on the Hindenburg Line before redeploying to Belgium in preparation for the summer offensive planned in the Ypres salient. The 52nd played a supporting role in the Battle of Messines in early June. Robert returned to trench mortar school for a week before taking part in the Battle of Polygon Wood, presumably as a member of a Stokes Mortar team.
 
The offensive that began in June in Flanders faltered as incessant rain turned the low lying ground into a quagmire. The later stages of the Battle of Passchendaele became synonymous with mud. By November the Australian divisions were exhausted and it was left to the Canadians to finally take Passchendaele. While resting behind the lines, Robert was found in the local town, where he may have been indulging in some local wine without a pass. He lost a day’s pay.
 
In late 1917, Germany signed a peace treaty with Russia after the fall of the Czar and the installation of Lenin’s Bolshevik government. The German divisions on the eastern front could now be brought to the western front. Timing was critical as the German command knew that there was only a brief period in which they would have superior forces before the newly arriving American forces swung the balance of power back in the allies’ favour.
 
Operation Michael was launched by Ludendorff on 21st March 1918. The main thrust was against the British 5th Army holding the line on the Somme. Within a matter of days, most of the territory gained by the British was lost as the 5th Army broke and retreated in disarray. The vital communication hub of Amiens was under threat and if it fell, the British and French forces would be split and the British forced to retreat to the channel coast.
 
Realising the seriousness of the situation, Haig, the British commander in France rushed two Australian divisions from Belgium to the Somme, believing correctly that the Australians who were battle hardened after Passchendaele could halt the advance long enough for him to reorganise his defence.
 
On 4th/5th April, the 13th Brigade of the 4th Division including the 52nd found themselves facing overwhelming numbers in the triangle formed between the Somme and Ancre Rivers at Dernacourt. Two Australian brigades faced two German divisions of stormtroopers. In spite of at least one company from the 47th Battalion being overrun, the line held.
 
The German advance would finally be halted at Villers Bretonneux some three weeks later, again by Australians.
 
After Dernacourt, Robert reported to a casualty clearing station with a serious case of haemorrhoids. He eventually was hospitalised for treatment and then convalescence. Before he could report back to his battalion he was hospitalised again, this time it was far more serious.
 
On 4th May, Robert was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital with acute nephritis. His condition steadily worsened and he died three days later. His death was attributed to exposure in the field. Robert was buried at the St Marie Cemetery adjacent to the hospital in Rouen.
 
Mary McGregor wrote to the authorities after being notified of Robert’s death requesting details of the hospital so that she could write to the matron to thank her for the care given to her son. In due course Mary received Robert’s personal effects which included a wallet, photos and an identity bracelet. She also received three photographs of his grave. Robert had named his mother the sole beneficiary of his estate which included his deferred pay.
 
Medals were received by Mary in 1922 along with a memorial plaque and scroll.