The AIF Project

Robert John McCAW

Regimental number18
Date of birth9 April 1878
Place of birthBallymena, Co Antrim, Ireland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSoldier
AddressLittle Arthur Street, North Adelaide, South Australia
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation36
Height5' 11.5"
Weight156 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Beatrice A. McCaw, Little Archer Street, North Adelaide, South Australia
Previous military serviceServed for 15.3 years in the Royal Irish Rifles, British Army; 1.1 years in the Instructional Staff (still serving at time of AIF enlistment).
Enlistment date1 September 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll26 August 1914
Place of enlistmentMorphettville, South Australia
Rank on enlistmentSquadron Quartermaster Sergeant
Unit name3rd Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/8/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board TRANSPORT A17 Port Lincoln on 20 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll47th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 5 April 1918
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Mary McCAW
Discharge date1 July 1918
Other details

War service: proceeded from Egypt to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 9 May 1915.

Wounded, Monash Valley, 17 May 1915 (bayonet wound, slight); admitted to Ras el Tin Hospital, Alexandria, 19 May 1915. Transferred to England, 9 June 1915, and admitted to hospital, Manchester. Returned to Egypt (no details recorded).

Embarked Alexandria to rejoin Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 5 November 1915; admitted to A&NZ Base, Mudros, 18 November 1915; rejoined unit at Destroyer Hill, Gallipoli, 21 November 1915.

Detached to Machine Gun School, 1-23 December 1915 (passed 'distinguished'); rejoined unit from detachment, 3 January 1916.

Disembarked Alexandria, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Transferred to 47th Bn, 2and appointed 2nd Lieutenant, 6 March 1916.

Admitted to 12th Field Ambulance, 28 April 1916 (acute laryngitis and tonsillitis), and transferred same day to 54th Casualty Clearing Station; to No 1 Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 9 May 1916; rejoined unit from hospital, 24 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 2 June 1916; disembarked Marseiiles, France, 9 June 1916.

Wounded in action, 6 July 1916 (slightly: gun shot wound, right leg and fracture, left side of face), andadmitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance; transferred to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 7 July 1916; to Ambulance Train, 7 July 1916, and admitted same day to 14th General Hospital, Wimereux. Transferred to England, 8 July 1916, and admitted to 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, 9 July 1916. Rejoined unit, in the field, 12 September 1916.

Seconded to 12th Training Bn, Codford, England, 28 October 1916, and marched in, 31 October 1916.

Promoted Lieutenant, and remained seconded, 1 January 1917.

Admitted to Cobham Hall Hospital, Kent, 26 July 1917 (not yet diagnosed); discharged to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 4 September 1917 (no further details recorded). Medical Board, 3 September 1917, recommended return to Australia.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Ulysses', 10 September 1917 (neurasthenia); disembarked Adelaide, 9 November 1917.

Re-embarked Melbourne on board HT 'Beltana', 19 January 1918; disembarked London, England, 21 March 1918.

Reported to No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth for embarkation to Australia, 27 March 1918; commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Borda', 5 April 1918; disembarked Melbourne, 30 May 1918; discharged (medically unfit) (appointment terminated), 1 July 1918.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death19 January 1928
Age at death49
Place of burialAIF Cemetery, West Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia
SourcesNAA: B2455, McCAW Robert John

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.