He served in the Army for 20 years, including in the Middle East (Palestine, Syria & Lebanon); New Guinea (Madang, Hansa Bay & Lae); Solomon Islands (Torokina & Bougainville); New Britain (Rabaul) & post-WW2 Japan & Korea
Bob was born at King Island, Currie, Tasmania on 27 Aug 1915, the eldest son of Thomas Edward Bertram & Ada Emily Littlewood
He was a 20 year old Clamming Mill Hand & Fisherman in King Island, when on 7 Jan 1936 he enlisted into the Citizen Military Force, being allocated to the Royal Australian Artillery as Gunner S/No. 238358 with 16th Field Battery at Paterson Barracks Launceston
Bob transferred from to the Permanent Military Force on 19 May 1936 & was allocated to the Royal Australian Engineers as Sapper S/No. TP4818 with the 3rd Fortress Company RAE in Melbourne VIC
He transferred to the 2nd Fortress Company in Sydney NSW on 16 Dec 1936, then to 7th Fortress Company in Darwin on 17 Jul 1938 & was promoted Corporal on 1 Nov
He was appointed U/L/Sergeant attached to Darwin Mobile Force on 30 Mar 1939 carrying out the duties of Signals Mechanist Sergeant & promoted Signals Mech Sergeant (P) on 1 May
He transferred to the 5th Fortress Company at Rottnest Island WA on 26 Jun 1939 & appointed S/Sergeant (Signals Mech) on 3 Nov
At Swanbourne Barracks on 17 May 1940, Bob attested for service abroad & was transferred to the Australian Imperial Force as S/No. WX3174 & appointed A/Sergeant in the 7th Division, Signals
He embarked for the Middle East from Fremantle on 25 Oct 1940, arriving in Egypt on 26 Nov
He was confirmed to the rank of Sergeant on 5 Dec, he was briefly detached to the 2/2nd Anti–Tank Regiment, 1–28 Feb 1941
He attended a Potential Officers Course at the Officer Cadet Training Unit, Middle East on 27 Feb upon completion, was appointed Lieutenant on 11 May 1941
On 1 Jun he was detached to 2/4th Field Regiment as Signals Officer, taking part in the Syria & Lebanon Campaign against the Vichy French, until 21 Oct when he was detached as Signals Officer to the 25th Brigade for garrison duties in Beirut & Tripoli
Returning to Palestine in Jan 1942, he re–joined 7th Division Signals on the 19th & embarked for Return to Australia via Bombay on 13 Mar, arriving in South Australia on 23 May
He transferred as Staff to LHQ School of Signals, Bonegilla on 7 Jul & was appointed A/Captain on 4 Sep
On 20 mar 1943, Bob was married to Gwen Bindmng Pearl 'Billie' Crossley at St Johns Church in East Malvern – His brother, F/O (RAAF) Max Bertram was the Best Man & CAPT (AIF) F. C. Hueston was groomsman
On 3 Feb 1944 Bob returned to 7th Brigade & allocated for Regimental Duties with the1st Beach Landing Group, 2nd Beach Signals Section & embarked for New Guinea on 20 Jul, disembarked at Madang on the 24th
The Division conducted garrison duties & patrolling operations against Japanese stragglers before moving to Hansa Bay in Aug
On 6 Oct they embarked for Bougainville from Lae, arriving at Torokina on 10 Oct & subsequently took part in a number of significant battles until the end of the war including the Battles of Pearl Ridge & Slater's Knoll
He embarked for Return to Australia on 26 Jul 1945, disembarking in New Castle on 1 Aug
He was confirmed to the rank of Captain on 1 Aug
Following the 7th Brigades disbanded at the end of hostilities, he was transferred for Regimental Duties with 4th Brigade Signals on 4 Nov & embarked for New Britain on 27 Nov, arriving at Rabaul on 4 Dec
The Brigade assisted with occupation duties & oversaw the Japanese surrender around Rabaul
Bob was seconded as Signals Officer with the Pacific Islands Regiment, Headquarters at Yunakanau, Rabaul on 12 Mar 1946
He arrived back in Australia on 20 Apr & the PIR was officially disbanded on 24 Jun
On 2 Aug he posted to AHQ Signals then transferred to 1 Base Signals Park on 19 Feb 1947
He was re–allocated to the Interim Army, Australian Staff Corps as Warrant Officer Class 2 on 1 Jul 1947
Bob embarked for Japan with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force on 7 May 1948, arriving in Kure where he posted to 34th Australian Infantry Brigade Signals on 11 May
He arrived back in Australia on 26 Oct 1948 & was appointed Intelligence Officer with 1st Brigade on 26 Jan 1949
Again commissioned as Lieutenant on 1 Jul 1949
He qualified "C" Peace Administration Course on 5 Jun 1950 & was promoted Captain on 1 Jul
Qualified "E" Signals Officer Course on 24 Nov 1950 & Field Officers Tactical Course on 6 Sep 1952
He was re–allocated to the Australian Regular Army, Instructional Corps on 23 Oct 1952 & was allocated as S/No. 5/39, Lieutenant & H/Captain serving in capacity as Quartermaster
Bob embarked for Japan with the British Commonwealth Force Korea on 10 May 1953, arriving in Kure where he posted to the British Commonwealth Base, Signals Regiment, serving as Trade Testing Officer for Storeman Tech (Sigs)
He was detached to the Australian Ancillary Unit (Korea), 3–8 Oct 1953
Bob returned to Australia on 28 Oct 1954 & was posted to AHQ Signals Regiment on 7 Dec
He was admitted to Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg Victoria on 23 Nov 1955 though was discharged to duty on 5 Jan 1956. He was again admitted to the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, though this time was listed as “dangerously ill” on 29 Jul
Sadly, Bob succumbed to his illness & passed away from an intracerebral haemorrhage at 9pm on 7 Aug 1956
He was laid to rest at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Grevillea, Garden J3, Bed 2, Rose 33
Bob’s brothers & cousin also served during the war
Brother, Maxwell Forbes Bertram - 22nd (Tasmanian) Light Horse CMF & 255367 Flight Lieutenant with 84 Squadron RAAF (1940-45)
Brother, Henry Wilson Bertram - 408274 Leading Aircraftman as RAAF Aircrew Trainee (1941-42) & TX6941 Lieutenant with 8th Army Troops & ANGAU 'bomb disposal' (1942-46)
Cousin, Thomas Henry Bertram - 428037 Flying Officer - RAAF Beaufighter Pilot
