Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Charles Victor Bampton was born October 24th, 1892 in Alberton, South Australia. He was born 3rd of 8 children, to parents Robert William Bampton and Elizabeth Emily Markins Bampton.

Bampton was a single, 22-year-old, protestant, fireman, when he enlisted to the AIF on the 26th of July 1915, in Keswick, Adelaide. He was an average size man standing at 5ft 6 inches (170cm), with a weight of 160lbs (72kg). He was initially assigned to join the 13th reinforcements to the 10th infantry battalion.

He embarked on the 11th of January 1916, and arrived in Zeitoun, Cairo, Egypt on the 29th of February 1916. Once arrived in Egypt he was taken on strength to join the 50th Battalion on the 29.2.1916. After roughly 4 months training in Zeitoun, on the 5th of June 1916 he embarked on the Arcadian.

The 50th battalion was established on February 26th of 1916 in Egypt. This was a part of the “doubling” of the AIF. Many of the soldiers were veterans from the 10th battalion and the rest were new recruits (also mostly from South Australia). It became a part of the 13th brigade in the Australian 4th division. They arrived in France on the 13th of June 1916, and they fought their first major battle at Mouquet Farm between the 13th and 15th of August. During these days the Battalion suffered majorly. From there they proceeded a second attack of September 3rd, where they spent the rest of the year either on front line, training or labouring. This continued through the winter of 1916-17.

It was during his service in the 50th Battalion that Bampton was wounded in action. He suffered a severe gunshot wound to his upper right arm on the 4th of September 1916. Due to the timing of this injury, it was likely to have occurred during the second attack at Mouquet Farm. Bampton was sent to the 1st Southern General Hospital Kings Health Birmingham, on the 7.9.16. From there he was transferred on the 9.10.16 to the 3rd Australian General Hospital England.

He was deemed medically unfit to continue service and was discharged on the 28th of May 1917. Bampton returned home on the Benalla. A ship that made four voyages to and from London carrying troops and soldiers. The ship left the UK carrying Bampton on the 13th of Feb 1917, and he disembarked in Australia on the 4th of April 1917. He served a total of 1 year 288 days of which 1 year and 90 days were spent abroad. He received a 1914-15 Star, as well as the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

After returning from the war, he married Lucy Iris Taylor Bampton.

On the 27th June 1950, Robert Charles Victor Bampton died at the age of 57. He is now buried in Cheltenham Cemetery, Charles Sturt City, South Australia, Australia.

Bibliography

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scheme=AGLSTERMS.AglsAgent; corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600; contact=+61 2 6212 3600 (no date) View Digital Image, scheme=AGLSTERMS.AglsAgent; corporateName=National Archives of Australia; address=Queen Victoria Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600; contact=+61 2 6212 3600. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=3047901&S=1&N=12&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=3047901&T=P&S=3 (Accessed: 16 May 2023).

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corporateName=Department of Veterans’ Affairs; address=21 Genge St, Civic/Canberra City, ACT 2601; contact=+61 2 6289 1133; [email protected] (2023) Landing at Anzac Cove 25 April 1915, Anzac Portal. Available at: https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/gallipoli/landing-anzac-cove (Accessed: 16 May 2023).