FEATHERSTONEHAUGH-WOOSTER, Robert Albert
| Service Number: | 2809 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 October 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 20 September 1885 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Broken Hill State School |
| Occupation: | Shop Assistant |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Broodseinde, Belgium, 4 October 1917, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Broken Hill Barrier District Roll of Honour, Broken Hill War Memorial, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient) |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Oct 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 2809, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, embarkation_roll: roll_number: 18 embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: |
|
| 16 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2809, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 31 Jul 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2809, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2809, 43rd Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge |
Robert Albert Featherstonehaugh Wooster
In fact Robert's surname despite his military records is not hyphenated.
He was the son of Henry Featherstonehaugh Wooster, his grandfather and my great, great, great grandfather was also named Henry Featherstonehaugh Wooster (London ship wright, ship broker & Insurer). Robert was born 1886 in Adelaide SA the oldest of 5 children born to HF Wooster1 & Annie Cora Wooster nee Walker. HF Wooster1 was born circa 17 Jul 1839. Rotherhithe London UK, married. 1886 Annie WALKER, Adelaide & died.1905, Balwyn VIC. Robert did not marry, nor did his siblings produce offspring thus no known photo's exist of Robert. Sadly during family research I identified that Roberts medals were sold by Nobles.com.au in 1995, Nobles has failed to respond to my request for information which may assist our family locate & purchase his medals that were sold by someone unknown. Where are they?
Research to date has not been able to locate a photograph of the 43rd Bn, nor 6th reinforcements nor C Company from his period of service. Should anyone know of a photo please contact me as we wish to add it to our extensive family data dating from 1495.
Cheers Ray Wooster ex Australian Regular Army . RAAMC
Submitted 10 October 2014 by Ray Wooster
Biography
Mother: Mrs Annie Cora Featherstonehaugh-Wooster of Cobalt Street Railway Town, Broken Hill, New South Wales.
Enlisted Adelaide 28 October 1916 - assigned to the 6th Reinforcements of the 43rd Battalion (3rd Division) and trrained at Mitcham Camp south of Adelaide
He joined the Battalion after Depot Training in the UK and France on 18 July 1917. The Battalion had earlier been involved in its first major operation at Messines in early June 1917.
All of the Divisions of the AIF were committed to the Third Ypres offensive.
On the evening of the 3rd October, the 43rd Battalion began an approach march to their assembly area to form up for a major attack the next morning, with zero hour set at 6.00am on the 4th, as recorded in the Battalion diary.
Robert was killed on the 4th October 1917, in the capture of Broodseinde Ridge by the AIF in a great 'meeting engagement' when Australian and German assualt formations collided head-on in no-man's land as each was heading for the others lines. The Australians had taken a lot of casualties early when they were shelled while lying in the Assembly Area. Notwithstanding, when they rose to the attack they met a German attack coming the other way. The result was a rout of the Germans by the Australians and the capture of this key terrain feature. It overlooks the town of Ypres and dominates the eastern approaches to the town.
Robert is recorded as having been buried at Zonnebeke, Chaplain W.A. Moore officiating, at Map Grid 28 NE1, D21 b,c,d. This will no doubt be a reference on a trench map. The fact that his grave could not subsequently be located affirms the fact that the area was subject to more or less continuous shelling.
Like 58,000 other Commonwealth soldiers missing in the Ypres salient he is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
A Red Cross file has not yet been interrogated
British War Medal 54584
VIctory Medal 53714
Commemorative Plaque and Scroll 335951
Steve Larkins July 2014
"IN BROKEN HILL. PRIVATE R. A. FEATHERSTONHAUGH-WOOSTER. KILLED IN ACTION.
Mrs. A. C. F. Wooster, of Cobalt-street, Railway Town, has been notified by the military authorities that her eldest son. Private R. A. (Bob) Featherstonhaugh-Wooster, was killed in action in France on October 4. Private Wooster of C Company, 43rd Battalion, sailed from Adelaide on December 16, 1916, and entered the trenches on the Western front on July 16, 1917. Previous to enlisting he was employed as a grocer for about seven years with R. E. A. Kitchen. Lance-Corporal J. D. Sheehan, who had also been an employee of the firm had previously left for the front and Private Wooster on arrival in France obtained permission to join Lance-Corporal Sheehan's unit. In their first engagement in July whilst going over the parapet together to charge the enemy, Lance-Corporal Sheehan fell from a bullet wound, and is now in hospital in England. The late Private Wooster was well known in Broken Hill." - from the Broken Hill Barrier Miner 29 Oct 1917 (nla.gov.au)
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