Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Sears was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne in 1888. His mother was Clara May Sears nee Palmer born in Geelong, Victoria. Robert’s father was Thomas Housson Sears, born Hadlow, near Kent, England.

Robert’s maternal grandparents arrived in Australia in 1832 from England. His maternal grandfather Henry Palmer, a ‘wheelwright’ and his material grandmother Mary Ann Palmer nee Notely arrived as ‘assisted immigrants’ and brought four of their children with them. Henry was to run a successful coachbuilding business, operating in both Victoria and Tasmania.

Robert’s fraternal grandfather and grandmother, John and Elizabeth Sears, were brewers. Thomas Housson Sears, Robert’s father, furthered the familial interest in hops. Thomas, known as the ‘Baron’, ran a series of Victorian hotels. Robert’s family life would have delivered him an ever-changing kaleidoscope of characters during his formative years. By the time Robert was born the Baron was a ‘cordial maker’ and the family lived in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

One of 10 children, Robert with 2 of his brothers, Frank and Percy Baron Sears, moved to Western Australia, which is why he enlisted into the Australian Military Force in Perth.

By all reports the Sears were a close-knit family. It is a testimony of Robert’s love and sense of duty for and to his mother Clara that when Robert enlisted he instructed the A.M.F. to pay, on his behalf, ‘Three Shillings a Day to my Mother, Clara May Sears’.

Clara was to ‘pass suddenly’ on Christmas Day 1916. It must have been a shock to young Robert, especially since he was so far away from the warmth of his mother’s arms. Robert was to suffer his own ultimately fatal medical condition.

Robert contracted tuberculous during his WW1 service. His war records include telegrams to his brother Percy, who by this time was Robert’s Next of Kin since Clara’s passing. The following telegrams were sent to Percy in Perth W.A. on 8/11/1918 ‘Corporal Robert Sears Dangerously Ill Progress Report Expected’. Then another one the same day ‘Now Reported Corporal Robert Sears Admitted Camp Hospital Weymouth England Tuberculosis Dangerously Ill’.

Perhaps Robert contracted tuberculosis when he was admitted to hospital for a gun-shot wound to his right hand. Or perhaps he caught the disease on the field in the line of active service in France. Due to his condition he was sent back to Australia on the 5th January 1919 on the Ship Kanowna.

Robert spent the years prior to his death in ‘Hadlow Lodge’, Woodford in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. The name of the lodge referenced the town in England where his father John was born. The tuberculosis he contracted during WW1 was to eventually kill him and he died aged 43 years on 10th June 1931.

Robert’s grave stone cites the battles he fought in France during WW1. Also that the monument was ‘Erected by his brothers and sisters’. The warmth of his family was with him till the end.