Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sergeant Robert Esmond McMaster (Service Nos:Q61070/QX16111) initially served in the ACMF (16 October 1940 - 7 February 1941) as a Private attached to 1st Auxiliary Horse Transport Coy, and was a Corporal when he enlisted in the AIF on 8 February 1941. Corporal McMaster served in the Middle East (18 September 1941 - 24 March 1942) and New Guinea (28 September 1942 - 20 May 1944) as a Gunner attached to 2/2 Tank Attack Regiment - Private McMaster was a member of the 2/2 Anti Tank Regiment rugby league team. Sergeant McMaster then served in Borneo (Morotai, Balikapan; 29 May 1945 - 10 January 1946), and was attached to 2/9 Infantry Battalion at Discharge on 18 January 1946. In 1985, Sergeant McMaster wrote to the Army requesting replacement copies of his Discharge Papers and medals which were lost or detroyed in 1984 when he was moving house 'I value them very highly, treated them with the utmost care ...' (NAA; 1985)

Bob was born in Rockhampton, QLD in 1921, youngest (and only son) of three children of Angus John McMaster (b1881 in Rockhampton, QLD) and Fanny (Ciss) Esmond (b1885 in Emerald, QLD). Angus and Ciss married in 1914 in Rockhampton - Angus was an Engine Driver with QLD Rail and Ciss a Shop Assistant in Rockhampton. Angus and Ciss lived in Rockhampton, Brisbane, Fitzroy, Charleville - Angus was a Locomotive Engine Driver for QLD Rail - before retiring to Nerang, QLD.

Bob was a Clerk in Brisbane when he enlisted in the Army. Given the nickname 'Wallaby Bob', he is described as 'a comedic raconteur, goal kicking prop, Wallaby, wrestler and publican. A larger than life front rower who revelled in ruck play, McMaster honed his rugby skills during seven years at St Joseph's Gregory Terrace ... played seven tests for Australia in a two year international career'. (Classic Wallabies). In 1948 in Brisbane, Bob married his first wife Joyce May Hamilton (b1920 in Townsville, QLD) - Joyce was working in Brisbane as a Shop Assistant. Bob and Joyce lived in Brisbane, where they raised their family and Bob was a Clerk, a Wrestler and Wrestling Coach, and a professional footbal player. Following their divorce in 1961, Bob moved to the Gold Coast Hinterland, where he was Publican of the Wallaby Hotel in Mudgeeraba. In the mid 1960s he remarried to Sadie (Dawn) Butler (b1921 in Sydney, New South Wales) - Dawn was an Actor and Dancer. Bob and Dawn settled at Mudgeeraba, and then in 1979, Bob sold the Hotel and pursued an interest in Horse Trotting. Bob died in 2003 and Dawn in 2017. A Plaque in Bob's memory was erected in 2003 at Mudgeeraba.