Sapper Robert Stewart Kerr 7810

SAPPER ROBERT STEWART KERR 1173 – 5th Divisional Ammunition Column / 7810 – 1st Tunnelling Company

Robert Stewart Kerr was born on December 23, 1896 in South Brisbane, Queensland the son of James and Agnes (nee Killeen) Kerr. He was a stockrider and stated he had seven years experience with Infantry.

On April 26, 1915 at the Recruiting Depot in Brisbane he applied to enlist for active service abroad and passed the medical examination. At this time he had not attained twenty-one years of age and his Trustee Guardians of Uncle David H. Kerr and his Aunt Mrs Marion Nairn both gave their written consent for their nephew to enlist. Attestation Forms were completed giving personal details of his age as nineteen years and seven months, standing 170cms (5ft 7ins) tall and weighing 64.5kgs (142lbs) with a chest expansion of 82-87ins (32- 34ins).

He had a fair complexion with blue eyes that tested to good vision and fair hair. Presbyterian was his faith. One distinctive mark was a vaccination scar on his left arm. Next-of-kin was his Aunt, Mrs Marion Nairn of Boundary Street, South Brisbane and later changed to Photo: The Queenslander West End, Brisbane. He was sworn in the same day. March 17, 1917

Basic Training commenced as a Private soon after enlistment and having horsemanship skills was allotted on August 12, 1915 to the 8th Reinforcements to the 2nd Light Horse at Chermside, Brisbane with the regimental number 1173. He embarked on August 16, 1915 from Brisbane on board the transport HMAT A55 Kyarra for service abroad.

In Egypt he was taken to Helouan suffering from Bronchitis on December 15, 1915 and discharged to duty fifteen days later and rejoined his unit on January 5, 1916. He remained with the Light Horse Regiment until February 4, 1916 when he transferred to the 20th Reinforcements to the 5th Aust Army Service Corps and two days later was taken on strength as an appointed Driver at Heliopolis, Egypt. Twelve days later he was sent to Minia and transferred to the 1st Light Horse Reserve Regiment on February 29, 1916.

He was late for Parade at Heliopolis on March 7, 1916 at 7 a.m. and a Fine of 25cents (2/6d) was awarded.

A transfer to the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column took place on March 10, 1916 and taken on strength the same day at Zietoun. On May 4, 1916 he was transferred and taken on strength to the 5 th D.A.C. at Ferry Post East. Was relocated for Details on May 15 to Tel-el-Kebir where three days later admitted to the No. 1 Aust Stationary Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir with N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed).

He moved to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Heliopolis on May 20 and relocated to Cairo to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital on June 13 suffering from Neurasthenia (mild) [Nervous condition, constantly worried to point of exhaustion]. His next-of-kin was advised that he was in hospital on June 1, 1916.

Orders from Headquarters for his return to Australia were issued and he departed from the Suez on the hospital ship Clan McGillivray on July 10, 1916 for discharge in Australia. On July 28, 1916 his Aunt was advised by Base Records of his impending return from Egypt.

The ship was due into Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on August 9 and Private Kerr disembarked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on August 14, 1916. Military Discharge was issued on September 12, 1916.

Private 1173 Robert S. Kerr of 5th Divisional Ammunition Column was awarded the 1914/1915 Star (7239) for this service abroad.

Three months later and a few days after his twentieth birthday on December 27, 1916 at the Brisbane Recruiting Depot Robert Kerr enlisted again for service abroad and passed the medical examination. Forms of Attestation were filled in with the same details as his first enlistment the previous year.

Exceptions were his occupation which was now a farmer and previous military experience was stated to be 4 years with the Senior Cadets in area A92 and 2 years with the Citizens Forces 5th Infantry with equipment returned. One year and 140 days Active Service with the A.I.F. in Egypt but medically discharged was also given. He was sworn in the same day.

Together with other members of the Unallotted Group he commenced basic training at the 11th Depot Battalion, Enoggera camp from December 28, 1916 until January 29, 1917 with the number 3066. Home Leave was granted for three days from January 25 until January 28 and upon his return the next day was assigned as a Trooper No. 7027 with the Light Horse Depot Regiment.

On March 29, 1917 a transfer to the Miners’ Depot (1st M.D.) followed to April 6, 1917 when he arrived at the Miners’ Training Camp at Seymour, Vic for further training. Allotment to the May 1917 Reinforcements saw him assigned the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 7230. He prepared a Will which was lodged and filed with the Military for future reference.

On April 30, 1917 he was sent to Ascot Vale Camp for treatment of a Social Disease remaining until June 11, 1917. When he returned he trained with ‘A Coy’ Tunnellers up to July 25, 1917. The May Reinforcements departed Sydney, NSW on August 4, 1917 but it seems Sapper Kerr did not embark. A Warrant was issued for his arrest on August 23, 1917 and he was crossed off the Roll as ‘Away without Leave’ but on September 10, 1917 the Warrant was recalled and he returned to camp.

He was placed with the November, 1917 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies with a new regimental number of 7810. The Reinforcements spent the night at Broadmeadows Camp, Melbourne before boarding the transport the next day.

The troopship HMAT A71 Nestor departed Port Melbourne, Vic on November 21, 1917 with 168 Reinforcements on board. The voyage of twenty-five days duration terminated at the Suez on December 15, 1917 and the men disembarked going to the Australian Infantry Camp, Suez the same day.

The Reinforcements entrained for Alexandria on January 4 and marched into the Australian Camp at Gabbary, Alexandria on January 5, 1918. On 8 January they embarked on Transport E620 Abbasiah, disembarking at Taranto, Italy four days later on 12 January. It was unusual for the troops undertake the weeklong train travel from Taranto to Cherbourg, France, and then cross the channel to Southampton England disembarking on January 24, 1918. A further entrainment completed their journey to Tidworth and they marched into No. 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse for more training for the front.

From Southampton the Reinforcements proceeded overseas to France on March 2, 1918 and marched into the Aust General Base Depot at Rouelles the next day. Sapper Kerr was transferred to the Aust Corps Depot on March 8 and then attached to the 1st Tunnelling Company on March 11 and taken on strength on April 17, 1918.

He was taken to the Aust. 3rd Field Ambulance on August 14, 1918 with dermatitis and transferred to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station where the following day was conveyed on A.T.28 to the 6 th General Hospital at Rouen being admitted with scabies. The next day he went to the No. 2 Convalescent Camp until September 7 when he was discharged to Base ‘A’ at the A.G.B.D. in Rouelles. He marched out to his unit on September 22 and rejoined two days later.

He was with his company when Armistice was declared and they remained part of the Army of Occupation assisting with rehabilitation of roads and bridges in their area.

He proceeded on January 17 for Leave from France which was enjoyed from January 22 until February 2, 1919 and rejoined his unit in the field on February 16, 1919.

A month later on March 18, 1919 he marched out to return to the United Kingdom for education purposes under Non-Military Employment. On March 27 he disembarked at Southampton and reported to Parkhouse camp to the A.A.S.C. Engineers’ Department where he was demobilised at the London Depot three days later.

On April 1, 1919 he was granted leave with pay only from April 1 to October 10, 1919 to attend Plumbing training with Arthur Abba at 111 Spring Bank, Hull. Leave was cancelled on June 10 and he arrived at the Deputy Adjutant Assistant General’s Office to be retransferred to the 1st Tunnelling Company. The following day he reported to the Furlough Depot and advised to report to the No. 1 Group Camp at Longbridge-Deverill. He was granted fourteen days pre-embarkation leave from September 2, 1919 and report to No. 2 Group Camp on his return.

On October 8, 1919 he embarked from London on board the H.T. Devon for the voyage to Australia. His next-of-kin was advised of the return on October 22, 1919. The Will he made before embarkation was sent for lodgement three days later with the D.A.A.G. (1st M.D.). The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on November 27, 1919 and Sapper Kerr was discharged in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on December 29, 1919.

In 1937 his residence was 310-72 Adelaide Street, Brisbane with the occupation of a labourer.

Statements of his Service were forwarded to the Repatriation Department on October 5, 1939 and again on January 2, 1940.

The British War Medal (5781) and the Victory Medal (5711) were awarded to Sapper 7810 Robert Stewart Kerr, 1st Tunnelling Company for his second overseas service.

Robert Stewart Kerr died on January 14, 1971 aged 74 years. In the Courier-Mail on Thursday January 14, 1971 his Funeral Notice was published:

FUNERAL NOTICES KERR, Robert Stewart—(7810 Spr 1st A.I.F., Chermside). The relatives and friends of the late Robert Stewart Kerr are invited to attend his Funeral to leave The Chapel, 537 Stanley Street, Mater Hill, South Brisbane, tomorrow (Friday) for the Mount Gravatt Anzac Garden of Remembrance on conclusion of Service commencing at 10 a.m. GEO. HARTNETT A.F.D.A. BRISBANE UNDERTAKERS PTY Brisbane 4 4911 Redcliffe 84 5768 Wynnum 96 4219

The location of his grave is in Section G of Anzac Portion 2 in grave no. 544 of the Mount Gravatt Cemetery, Brisbane, Qld. © Donna Baldey 2010 www.tunnellers.net