HEMPHILL, Raymond Robert
| Service Number: | 4133 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 January 1916, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rochford, Victoria, Australia, March 1893 |
| Home Town: | Lancefield, Macedon Ranges, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Bolinda State School, Rochford State School, Melbourne University |
| Occupation: | Medical student |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 30 December 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bolinda State School Honour Roll, Lancefield Rochford State School No 540 Roll of Honor, Lancefield War Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4133, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 4133, 21st Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 7 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4133, 21st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne |
Help us honour Raymond Robert Hemphill's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Raymond Robert HEMPHILL was born in Rochford, Victoria in 1893
His parents were William Henry HEMPHILL and Annie Haines ROGERS
Biography contributed by Peter Sneddon
Cecil William and Raymond Robert Hemphill were brothers. Raymond was the oldest of seven children born to William Henry Hemphill and Annie Hain Rogers (married in 1891): raymond Robert (b. 1893), Vida Dorothy (b. 1895), Cecil William (b. 1896/7), Thelma Etta (b. 1899), Arthur George (b. 1903), Noel St Aubin (b. 1903), and Eveline Ada (b. 907).
Cecil and Raymond were both born in Rochford, Victoria. Rochford was a farming locality, approximately 7km southwest of Lancefield, near the intersection of Woodend and Monegeetta Roads. They attended Bolinda School sometime between 1899 and 1913, along with their sisters Thelma and Vida, and cousins Albert E. and Horace Hemphill.
Raymond joined the armed forces in December 1915. At the time of enlisting, Raymond was studying medicine. He first served in Egypt before being transferred to France. Like Cecil, Raymond was also accused of a crime: “being in town contrary to orders” while in Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt. His punishment was to be demoted from Acting Corporal to Private.
On 25 December 1916, he joined the 21st Batallion fighting in France. On the 30th, Raymond was hit in the chest by a 77” shell and died almost instantly. According to Sgt H. S. Clifford, he was buried at the back of a trench called “Blighty Trench” with a rough cross erected to mark the spot. The family requested that the public announcement of Raymond’s death be withheld temporarily as a close relative was in delicate health and was due to undergo an operation shortly. Unfortunately the request was received too late as the announcement had been made the day prior. Raymond’s father received Cecil’s medals, as well as the memorial plaque, scroll and pamphlet.
Click images to start slideshow.