| Regimental number | 4860 |
| Place of birth | Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland |
| School | School in Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 21 |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Commercial traveller |
| Address | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 28 |
| Height | 5' 7.25" |
| Weight | 175 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs Elizabeth Mason, 31 Gardiners Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 5th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/22/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 5th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal '(Near Ypres) Determination and personal courage as senior NCO of carrying party, rendering valuable services.' Recommendation date: |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Place of death or wounding | France |
| Age at death | 31 |
| Place of burial | Daours Communal Cemetery Extension (Plot VI, Row C, Grave No. 33), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 44 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Commemorated on Colvend Parish War Memorial, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland. |
| Medals |
Military Medal 'This N.C.O. was the senior N.C.O. of a carrying party which had to carry from the rear dump to the forward dump during the operation of the 4th October in the Zonnebeke area east of Ypres. Four journeys were made during the period of his duty and all the time a heavy barrage had to be passed through which was about 1000 yards in depth. On each journey heavy casualties were caused in his party, but his grit and determination kept them together with the result that the dump was kept well supplied.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 7 March 1916; disembarked Suez, 10 May 1916, and transferred to 2nd Bn Permanent Staff. Embarked Alexandria, 31 May 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 12 June 1916. Promoted Sergeant as from 11 May 1916. Married Jemima Jessie McVINNIE, spinster, aged 28, Colvend Parish Church (Church of Scotland), 14 August 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 13 March 1917; taken on strength, 5th Bn, in the field, 20 March 1917. .Promotion investigated, 27 November 1917; ruling: reverted to Private, 11 April 1916; promoted Temporary Sergeant, 11 April 1916; Sergeant, 20 March 1917. Awarded Military Medal. Appointed Temporary Company Sergeant Major, 2 December 1917. Appointed Company Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class II), 2 December 1917. On leave to United Kingdom, 31 January 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 17 February 1918. Wounded in action, 24 April 1918 (gun shot wound, right shoulder), and admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station and then to Ambulance Train; admitted to 7th Stationary Hospital, 25 April 1918; transferred to England, 27 April 1918, and admitted to 2nd Southern General Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham; transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, 16 May 1918; discharged on furlough, 22 May 1918, to report to No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 5 June 1918. Marched in to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 13 July 1918. Proceeded overseas to France, 8 August 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 16 August 1918. Wounded in action (second occasion), 23 August 1918 (gun shot wound, left and right butocks), and admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred to 41st Casualty Clearing Station. Died of wounds, 23 August 1918. Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, MASON Robert |