LAW, Robert
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Tradstone, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, 20 April 1870 |
| Home Town: | Brighton, Bayside, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Glasglow University, Scotland |
| Occupation: | Analytical Chemist |
| Died: | Natural causes, Middle Brighton, Victoria, Australia, 27 July 1930, aged 60 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brighton General Cemetery, Victoria Presbyterian H 70D |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement 3rd Pioneer Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne | |
| 28 Dec 1917: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches |
Help us honour Robert Law's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Law VD, of Sussex Street, Middle Brighton, chief chemist and assayer at the Royal Mint, Melbourne and until his retirement in 1928, well known in military circles, died suddenly on 27 July 1930, aged 60.
A native of Scotland, he studied at the Glasgow University, where he was assistant to Professor Sexton, Professor of Natural Philosophy. In the early 1890s he migrated to Victoria and and for almost 25 years was involved with the military. During the Great War he commanded the 3rd Pioneer Battalion (Engineers) from May 1916 until May 1917 and was mentioned in despatches. After leading the Battalion through Bullecourt in 1917 he was evacuated due to illness and subsequently discharged. After the war he continued to play a key role with the reserve forces and in 1925 was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration as recognition for long and meritorious service as a part-time commissioned officer.
On 29 December 1929 he was granted the honour of unveiling the magnificent Bright War Memorial Clock Tower during the ‘Back to Bright” celebrations.
In November 1893 at Middle Brighton he married Miss Leila Irwin Faris, a Victorian of Scottish parentage. They were to have two sons and a daughter. Mrs Law was heavily involved in the Friendly Union of Soldiers' Wives and other comfort fund efforts during World War I. Their younger son VX10513 Sergeant James Kelvin Huxley Law died of illness in the Middle East during World War II.
Robert Law was keenly interested in athletics, yachting and chemical research for which he did a great deal. He was president of the Brighton Soldiers' Memorial Committee and was also associated with the Masonic order.
Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Law VD was laid to rest in the Brighton General Cemetery, Victoria.
Reference: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page26371600
Click images to start slideshow.