The AIF Project

Robert Henry DARKER

Regimental number279
Place of birthCroydon, Queensland
SchoolCroydon School
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationHorse breaker
AddressOxford Street, Rockhampton, Queensland
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation24
Height6' 2"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs Alice Darker, Oxford Street, Rockhampton, Queensland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date14 October 1914
Place of enlistmentRockhampton, Queensland
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name15th Battalion, Headquarters
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/32/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A40 Ceramic on 22 December 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll11th Field Artillery Brigade
FateDied of disease 24 October 1918
Place of death or woundingSutton Veney Hospital
Age at death28
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
16
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 12 April 1915.

Wounded in action, Gallipoli, 30 May 1915 (gunshot wounds, back, neck and right hand); admitted to HS 'Newmarket', 31 May 1915; transferred to St Andrew's Military Hospital, Malta, 4 June 1915 (gunshot wounds, right hand and neck); to No 15 General Hospital, Alexandria, 17 July 1915; broke out of hospital, 17 July 1915; rejoined 15th Bn, 18 July 1915.

Admitted to No 2 Light Horse Field Ambulance, Maadi, 17 November 1915 (tonsillitis).

Transferred to 4th Divisional Artillery, 13 March 1916; taken on strength of 11th Field Artillery Bde, Tel el Kebir, 16 March 1916, and posted to 42nd Battery.

Promoted Acting Bombardier, 16 May 1916.

Promoted Bombardier, 17 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 1 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 10 January 1916.

Promoted Corporal, 19 June 1916.

Posted to 43rd Battery, 18 April 1917, and promoted Temporary Sergeant the same day.

Admitted to No 12 Australian Field Ambulance, 25 August 1917 (influenza), and reverts to the rank of Corporal on being evacuated; transferred to No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 1 September 1917; to No 16 General Hospital, Le Treport, 3 September 1917; to No 3 Convalescent Depot, 11 September 1917; discharged, 20 September 1917; marched into Australian General Base Depot, Le Havre, 21 September 1917.

Proceeded to unit, 28 September 1917; transferred to, and taken on strength of 4th Divisional Ammunition Column, 1 October 1917; transferred to, and taken on strength of 11th Field Artillery Bde, 1 October 1917, and posted to 43rd Battery.

Posted to 42nd Battery, 13 October 1917.

Wounded in action (2nd occasion), 20 October 1917; admitted to No 3 Australian Field Ambulance, 20 October 1917, and transferred to No 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station the same day (multiple shrapnel wounds); to No 8 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, 2 October 1917; to No 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 29 October 1917; to No 15 Convalescent Depot, Trouville, 2 November 1917; discharged, 10 November 1917; marched into Australian General Base Depot, Le Havre, 23 November 1917.

Admitted to No 2 General Hospital, Le Havre, 23 November 1917 (not yet diagnosed); discharged, 2 December 1917, and marched into Australian General Base Depot, Le Havre, the same day.

Proceeded to unit, 12 December 1917; rejoined 4th Divisional Artillery, 14 December 1917.

Tried by Field General Court Martial, 6 December 1917, on charges of (1) drunkenness; (2) striking his superior officer, in that at Harfleur, 17 November 1917, struck with his feet in the face of 814 Sergeant T. Brown, 18th Bn, AIF, and 9199 Sergeant F. Cornfield, 1st Bn, Coldstream Guards, who were at the time on police duty; found Guilty on both charges: sentenced to 28 days' imprisonment with hard labour, and to be reduced to the ranks; sentence confirmed by Colonel F. Parker, Acting Base Commandant, Le Havre, 7 December 1917, and sentence commuted to 28 days' Field Punishment No 1.

Detached to Corps Gas School, 20 January 1918; promoted Temporary Bombardier, 24 January 1918; rejoined unit, 29 January 1918.

Promoted Bombardier, 8 February 1918.

Proceeded to England for transport duty, 8 February 1918; marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 12 February 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Llanstephen Castle', 15 February 1918.

Returned to duty, Australia, 19 June 1918.

Entrained Brisbane, 15 July 1918, and proceeded to Sydney.

Embarked Sydney, 17 July 1918; disembarked London, England, 27 September 1918.

Admitted to Sutton Veny Military Hospital, 18 October 1918 (pneumonia, seriously ill).

Died, Sutton Veny Military Hospital, 24 October 1918 (influenza, and pneumonia).

Buried, St John the Evangelist Churchyard, 28 October 1918.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, DARKER Robert Henry

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