Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Victor Dominic Robb

10 December 1923 – 16 September 1992

Corporal SX19059, 2nd/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion

Victor Dominic Robb was born on 10 December 1923 at Yatala, South Australia, the youngest son of James Bruce Robb and Annie Elizabeth Robb (née Mathison). He was raised in the Alberton–Yatala district and, at the time of his enlistment during the Second World War, was employed as a postman and living with his parents at 5 Isabel Street, Yatala.

Victor enlisted in the Australian Military Forces at Wayville on 11 January 1943. His attestation papers record that he was nineteen years of age, single, a Roman Catholic, and nominated his father, James Bruce Robb, as his next of kin.

Serving with the 2nd/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion, Victor progressed to the rank of Corporal. During his service he completed a six-week course at the LHQ School of Mechanisation, No. 1 Mobile Wing, qualifying in vehicle maintenance and driver training. His instructors reported that he had made good progress and was capable of applying the principles taught, recommending that he gain further experience with his unit.

Following the end of the Second World War, Victor was honourably discharged from military service on 10 September 1946, returning to civilian life in South Australia.

On 18 June 1948, the engagement of Victor and Lorice Irene Nayda, only daughter of Leslie Charles Nayda and Nora Elizabeth (Johnstone) Nayda, was announced in The Southern Cross. The notice described Victor as the youngest son of Mrs. A. E. Robb and the late Mr. J. B. Robb of Alberton, confirming the initials of his parents recorded in official birth records.

An initial wedding was announced for 29 April 1950, but no evidence has been found that the ceremony proceeded. A subsequent announcement published in The Southern Cross confirmed that Victor and Lorice were married at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Port Road, Hindmarsh, on 11 October 1952, followed by a reception at Balfour's Café, King William Street, Adelaide.

Victor and Lorice made their home in Pennington and raised three children:

Judith
Catherine
John
The couple shared almost forty years of marriage before Victor's death.

Victor died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South, on 16 September 1992, aged 68 years. His death registration records his residence as 14 Wynette Street, Pennington, and names his wife as Lorice Irene Nayda. He was buried on 19 September 1992 in the Catholic Section, Row AH, Site 46, at Enfield Memorial Park.

His bronze memorial plaque honours his military service and remembers him as:

Loved husband of Lorice

Loving father of Judith, Catherine and John

R.I.P.

After more than thirty years apart, Victor was reunited with Lorice when she was interred in the same grave on 5 September 2024. Lorice had passed away peacefully on 8 August 2024, aged 97 years, having remained the cherished matriarch of the Robb family.

Military Note

Victor's memorial plaque identifies him as serving with the 2/33rd Australian Infantry Battalion. However, his official National Archives of Australia service file and Australian military service records consistently identify his wartime unit as the 2nd/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion. As official military records are the primary source, the battalion recorded in those records is considered the authoritative identification.

Sources

South Australian Birth Registration: Victor Dominic Robb, born 10 December 1923, Yatala; parents James Bruce Robb and Annie Elizabeth Mathison (Book 126A, Page 199).
National Archives of Australia, Service File SX19059, Victor Dominic Robb – attestation papers, service record, training records and discharge.
Australian Military Service Records: SX19059, Corporal, 2nd/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion; enlisted 11 January 1943, discharged 10 September 1946.
The Southern Cross, 18 June 1948 – Engagement notice (Nayda–Robb).
The Southern Cross, 21 April 1950 – Approaching Marriage notice.
The Southern Cross, 3 October 1952 – Marriage announcement.
South Australian Death Registration: Victor Dominic Robb, died 16 September 1992 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville South; residence 14 Wynette Street, Pennington; spouse Lorice Irene Nayda.
Enfield Memorial Park Burial Records: Victor Dominic Robb, buried 19 September 1992, Catholic Section, Row AH, Site 46; Lorice Irene Robb interred 5 September 2024.
The Advertiser, 17 August 2024 – Death and funeral notices for Lorice Irene Robb.

Biography by Trevor Pyatt 7/07/2026