Robert Austin (Bob) NALDER

NALDER, Robert Austin

Service Number: 364
Enlisted: 12 March 1915, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 18th Infantry Battalion
Born: Guyra, New South Wales, Australia, 16 March 1896
Home Town: Kempsey, Kempsey, New South Wales
Schooling: Fort Street Boys' High School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Student
Died: Pneumonia, At sea (HMAT Ceramic A40), 16 July 1915, aged 19 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Buried at sea,
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt, Mosman St. Clement's Anglican Church Sergeant Robert A Nalder Memorial Tablet, Petersham Fort Street High School Great War Honour Roll
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World War 1 Service

12 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 364, 18th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Liverpool, NSW
25 Jun 1915: Involvement Sergeant, 364, 18th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: ''
25 Jun 1915: Embarked Sergeant, 364, 18th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney
16 Jul 1915: Involvement Private, 364, 18th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 364 awm_unit: 18 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1915-07-16

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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of William Henry and Elizabeth May Nalder of Guyra, NSW. Brother of Gordon Frederick Nalder who died on 3 May 1917 while serving with the 17th Battalion and has no known grave. Name appears on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial

Medals: British War Medal

Biography contributed by Michael Silver

The Fortian, the Magazine of Fort Street High School, Sydney reported in its August 1915 issue the death of former student Robert Austin Nalder .......

'Probably the saddest news that could come to present day Fortians, is that of the death of Sergeant “Bob” Nalder, who died on the voyage to the front of pneumonia, aged only I8 years. A boy who had made his mark in the school, both as scholar and sport, for many months he hankered to be serving his country in arms. We personally know that from the day the war broke out he was anxious to go.

Gaining his mother’s consent, he spent a few months in preparation at Liverpool, but with all his hopes, he was fated never to reach the actual field of battle. During his career at Fort Street, which began in June 1911, he endeared himself to all. No matter in what class he was, he was ever the class captain. To the present fourth year he was always a leader, honoured by the confidence and esteem of his classmates. At the Intermediate in 1913, he gained an exceptionally fine pass, while his success at the forthcoming L.C. Examination was assured. The confidence of the staff furthermore was shown by the fact that as soon as he entered the third year he was nominated as a Prefect.

We honour the memory of one who went actually from among us believing “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” To his mother, brothers and sisters, we extend our sincerest sympathy.'

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Biography contributed

Word was received here on Friday last by Rev. A. W. Coates, from the Defence Authorities, of the death of Sergeant R. A. Nalder, youngest son of the late Mr. W. H. Nalder, Kempsey, and of Mrs. Nalder, Guyra. Death was due to pneumonia, and occurred on 16th July on board the transport Ceramic, bound for Egypt, three weeks after leaving Sydney. The young officer was 19 years of age, and a studentat Fort-street High School, Sydney, and was the first Fortian to join the colors. A promising life has thus prematurely passed away, but the bereaved friends have the melancholy satisfaction of knowing it was yielded in the noble endeavour to serve King and country.
Guyra Argus (NSW), 12 August 1915.

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