Barter, Robert

No.2629 – Lance Corporal Robert Diamond Barter 48^th Battalion AIF

Robert Diamond Barter was born in Fremantle WA to Robert & Annie Barter in 1893. A brother called Gilbert was born in Fremantle in 1895. Robert grew up in Fremantle and attended Fremantle Grammar School. After he left school, he worked to become a Grazier and moved south to Rockingham though was up to Fremantle regularly as he was a member of the Cottesloe Rifle Club.

His father Robert was a retired Sea Captain and had worked extensively with the luggers at Broome, as well as the far east. Since he had retired from being a Mariner, Robert had become a Justice of the Peace for the Fremantle district and then bought some land at Rockingham where his wife and two sons lived with him.

According to the 1916 census, Robert Dimond Barter was living at “Allington” Rockingham Road in Rockingham.

With the consent of his parents, Robert aged 20, presented himself to the recruiting office at Fremantle, and enlisted into the AIF on April 19th 1916. He was given a medical examination which found Robert to be 5 feet 7 inches in height; weight of 137 lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; fresh complexion; grey eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Initially sent to No.69 Depot in May 1916, Robert was assigned to the 22^nd Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion from June to September. However in September Robert was transferred to the 6^th Reinforcements to the 48^th Battalion with the regimental number 2629. This group left Fremantle Harbour on the 30^th October 1916 aboard the A16 “Port Melbourne”.

The ship arrived at Devonport England on the 28^th December 1916 and the men were transferred to the 12^th Training Battalion at Codford on the Salisbury Plains. Training took place here all through January and on the 2^nd February the men were embarked from Folkestone for service in France. After a week at the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, Robert was taken on strength of the 48^th Battalion on the 10^th February 1917.

He joined the 48^th Battalion in the region of Flers at the end of one of the coldest French winters on record. Robert took part in the disastrous attack at Bullecourt on the 11^th April 1917, where the 48^th Battalion took the German trenches in the Hindenburg Line but were forced to withdraw due to lack of support. Robert was wounded in the legs and arms during the attack and was evacuated through the Field Ambulance and Casualty Clearing Station, reaching the 1^st General Hospital at Etretat. Robert recovered quickly and in early May was sent to the 4^th Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples. He rejoined the 48^th Battalion on the 24^th May 1917.

There was no rest for the 48^th Battalion as in June 1917 they were involved in the Messines battle. They followed up the advances made by the 3^rd Division & New Zealand Division. Robert survived this battle and the next few months as the 48^th garrisoned trenches in the vicinity of Messines. In September & October, the 48^th Battalion were heavily in the action during the Third Battle of Ypres. The 12^th October 1917 was in particular a bad day for the 48^th Battalion as their attack was made in the mud and was unsupported on the flanks which meant that the Germans were able to launch a massive barrage of machine gun and artillery fire. There were many casualties though fortunately Robert survived this. On the 9^th October Robert had been promoted to Lance Corporal.

Despite their huge casualties the remaining men of the 48^th were still required to do their front line duty and on the 20^th October Robert was killed in action. The official report stated that;

“The above mentioned soldier was engaged on Duck Board fatigue under Corporal Boucher on the night of 20.10.17 and when near Brigade Headquarters a high explosive shell burst killing him instantly. He was buried by the 12^th Brigade burial party under Cpl Giles of the 48^th Battalion at Sheet 28 N.E. d.26.c.1.s (Roulers Rly)”

Another notation on his service record stated that he was buried 2000 SW of Zonnebeke, south of Roulers Railway. Unfortunately, between then and the end of the war Robert’s grave could not be located and he is thus commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.

Robert’s mother Annie, of Market Street Fremantle, received his personal effects and medals.

Robert’s brother Gilbert served in the 28^th Battalion during WW1 regimental No.598 and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He survived the war, dying in 1980.