Robert (Bob) MANUEL

MANUEL, Robert

Service Number: 2131
Enlisted: 4 January 1916, 15th Reinforcements
Last Rank: Trooper
Last Unit: 4 Battalion Imperial Camel Corps
Born: Terowie South Australia, 12 March 1883
Home Town: Terowie, Goyder, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Wounds, Beersheba , 3 November 1917, aged 34 years
Cemetery: Beersheba War Cemetery
Row A, Grave No. 28
Memorials: Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Norwood War Memorial, Terowie Institute Honour Board, Terowie War Memorial, Unley Museum Honour Board
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World War 1 Service

4 Jan 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2131, 9th Light Horse Regiment, 15th Reinforcements
16 Mar 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2131, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: ''
3 Nov 1917: Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 2131, 4 Battalion Imperial Camel Corps, Battle of Beersheba, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2131 awm_unit: 4 Battalion Imperial Camel Corps awm_rank: Trooper awm_died_date: 1917-11-03

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Biography contributed by St Ignatius' College

Robert Manuel (1882-1917)

Regimental number: 2131

Robert Manuel was born on the 12 of March, 1882 in Terowie South Australia, Son of Mrs Rachel Manuel.  Robert Manuel was only 24 years old when he enrolled, he was 5 feet 7½ inches with a dark complexion, grey eyes and black hair. Robert's Religious status was a Methodist.

Robert Manuel worked as a labourer before joining the army, as a labourer he worked on farms, growing and harvesting crops and managing livestock, until 1916 when he decided to join the army. He enlisted in 4 of January 1916 and trained with the 15th Reinforcements of th 9th Light horse regiment .

He was taken on strength and moved from the 9th Light Horse regiment to the 3rd Double squad on July 1 in 1916 at Sereapeum in Egypt where he did more training with a different team. Taken on strength to the 4th Australian Camel Regiment in Abbassia.  Robert Manuel had served with the 4th Camel Regiment for around a year in the Sinai Desert advancing through Palestine in 1917.  Robert Manuel died of wounds on the 3 of November in 1917, west of Aerodrome Beersheba, Beersheba Map (B6) z 276. Palestine Turkey. when he was trying to destroy the Turkish defence line between Gaza and Beersheba. He was buried one day later after being found by Chaplain S.L Thompson. Robert Manuel was buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine (Row A, Grave No. 28).  

The Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) was formed in January 1916 to deal with the uprising of pro-Turkish Senussi tribesmen in Egypt's Western Desert. The first four companies were enlisted from Australian infantry battalions recovering after Gallipoli. Four battalions were eventually formed. The 1st and 3rd were entirely Australian, the 2nd was British, The 4th was a mix of Australian and New Zealand, the Imperial Camel Corps  were transferred to the Sinai desert to act against the Turkish army. The ICC that advanced north through Palestine in 1917 and 1918 had suffered heavily during the second battle of Gaza on 19 April 1917 and actions in November to destroy the Turkish defence line between Gaza and Beersheba. The camels needed more food and water than equal numbers of horses, and, unobstructed by the desert, horses can move much quicker. The bulk of the ICC was disbanded in June 1918 and the Australians were used to form the 14th and 15th Light Horse Regiments.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

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"Imperial Camel Corps". En.wikipedia.org. N.p., 2017. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.

"Australian Soldiers, Memorials and Military History". Rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au. N.p., 2017. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.

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"South Australian Regiments and Battalions (1914 – 1918)". 100 years of Anzac for SA. N.p., 2017. Web. 27 Mar. 2017.

 

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