The AIF Project

Robert HAYBALL

Regimental number105
Place of birthBrighton Vic
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCarpenter
Address1 Vaucluse Street, Brighton, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation27
Next of kinWife, Mrs Mabel Hayball, 1 Vaucluse Street, Brighton, Victoria
Enlistment date5 February 1916
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll22 February 1916
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name3rd Pioneer Battalion, Machine Gun Section
AWM Embarkation Roll number14/15/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 6 June 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll3rd Pioneer Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 31 March 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'At 4.45 a.m. on the morning of the 8th August, 1918, immediately east of HAMEL, No. 105 R. HAYBALL was in charge of the first party to go forward along the main HAMEL CERISY Road to make repairs necessary to enable guns and traffic to get along at as early an hour as possible, in order to successfully carry on the advance. Sergeant HAYBALL got his party onto the section of the road for which he was responsible, shortly after the Infantry had advanced, although working quite out in the open with no shelter from heavy machine gun fire and hostile shelling. He showed great coolness and courage under most trying circumstances, and so encouraged his men by his personal energy and example that he had the roads in a fit state for all traffic, well up to schedule time, and was to a large extent, responsible for the successful completion of the works.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61
Date: 23 May 1919

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death20 September 1958
Place of burialSpringvale Cemetery

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