| Regimental number | 3243 |
| Place of birth | Kew, Victoria |
| School | Healesville College, Victoria |
| Other training | Workingmen's College |
| Religion | Protestant |
| Occupation | Commercial traveller |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 9.25" |
| Weight | 148 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs S G Routley, 35 Derby Street, Kew, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil (2 years in the Boys' Naval Brigade, Kew) |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Acting Sergeant |
| Unit name | 21st Battalion, 7th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/38/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 60th Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | 'He was keenly interested in his country's welfare, an active member of Kew Branch of A.N.A. [Australian Natives' Association] becoming President when only 24 years old.' (details from mother)[Note: ages do not tally.] |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 26 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 19), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 170 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Sarah ROUTLEY, "Claremont", Mont Albert Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria. Native of Kew, Victoria |
| Family/military connections | Brother: Captain Reginald Arthur ROUTLEY, West Yorkshire Regiment, British Army |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Taken on strength, 60th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 26 February 1916. Reverted to the ranks, 5 March 1916. Promoted sergeant, Ferry Post, 25 March 1916. Admitted to 15th Australian field Ambulance, 4 April 1916 (pyrexia, unknown origin); discharged to duty, 8 April 1916, and rejoined Bn, Ferry Post. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Note, Red Cross File No 2370203: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19[.]' Statement, 3698 Pte W. BOWES, 60th Bn (patient, 22 General hospital, Etaples), 6 December 1916: 'I knew him very well. I last saw him at Fromelles on 19th. Julyin No Man's Land, about 7.30 p.m. He was lying on the ground badly wounded by [a] bullet in the stomach. I tried to bandage him up. Then I had to carry on and leave him. He was evidently dying when I left him. The ground remained in No Man's Land.' Second statement, 3306 Pte WHARTON, B Company, 60th Bn (patient, No 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport), 29 May 1917: 'I am in B. Coy and he was in D. Coy, but I knew him well since he came from Australia with me. Capt Kerr, then Lieutenant in B. Coy, found his paybook driven into the earth by a piece of shell. It was on July 19th when we made an attack, but only got about 60 yards. I was lying out till morning and Capt Kerr helped to get me fetched in; it was then he found the paybook. I expected every moment that the next shell would find me. Nothingelse was found of Sgt Routley; it looked as if a piece of shell had cut the paybook out of his pocket. We had got about 60 yards but had another 60 yards to go.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, ROUTLEY Raymond Francis
Red Cross File No 2370203 |
Postal Address:
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Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
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Campbell, ACT 2600
