EMMETT, Robert
| Service Number: | 2901 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 57th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hill End, New South Wales, Australia, 16 November 1890 |
| Home Town: | Bathurst, Bathurst Regional, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Porter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 30 August 1918, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Assevillers New British Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2901, 57th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2901, 57th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Robert EMMETT, (Service Number 2901) was born on 16 November 1890 at Hill End. He began working for the NSW Railways as a porter in the Traffic Branch in the Eskbank District in June 1915. In August he was a gatekeeper and September a porter again, in which role he remained for the rest of his career. In April 1916 he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces. He was not married at the time of his enlistment in Bathurst, described his calling as ‘sheet metal worker’, and gave his brother as his next of kin.
He left Sydney on board HMAT ‘Afric’ on 3 November 1916.
He was killed in action on 30 August 1918 and buried at the French Cemetery at Flancourt by Rev Rogers. He had been hit by a shell, and the concussion had detonated Mills Bombs which he was carrying in his pockets. After the war his remains were exhumed and re-interred in the Assevillers New British Cemetery, Picardie, France.
Submitted 27 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Robert EMMETT (Service Number 2901) was born on 16th November 1890 at Hill End. He began working for the NSW Railways as a porter in the Traffic Branch in the Eskbank District (Lithgow) in June 1915. In August he was a gatekeeper and September a porter again. In April 1916 he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces. He was not married at the time of his enlistment in Bathurst. He described his occupation as ‘sheet metal worker’ and gave his brother as his next of kin.
He left Sydney on board HMAT ‘Afric’ on 3rd November 1916 and reached Plymouth on 9th January 1917. He was in trouble for being absent without leave (AWL) and travelling to London without a pass. This cost nine days’ pay.
He joined the 57th Australian Infantry Battalion in France on 1st April. He was hospitalised with scabies. He re-joined the Battalion on 2nd November.
On 13th June 1918 he was AWL, and forfeited 13 days pay. In July he had leave in Paris but in August he was admonished for hesitating to obey the order of his Superior Officer. He had been AWL again.
He was killed in action on 30th August 1918. He was buried at the French Cemetery at Flancourt by Rev Rogers. He had been hit by a shell, and the concussion had detonated Mills Bombs (hand grenades) which he was carrying in his pockets. After the war his remains were exhumed and re-interred in the Assevillers New British Cemetery, Picardie, France.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board