Aitken, Robert

2528 Private Robert Aitken MM – 12th Battalion AIF

Robert Aitken was born in Invercargill New Zealand in 1881. He spent much of his early life in New Zealand but when his dad died in the early 1900’s, Robert’s mother Marie remarried and the family moved to Tasmania. Robert soon travelled to Western Australia for employment and took up residence in North Fremantle, boarding with a Mrs. Bailey in Thompson Road. Robert was working in the Fremantle district as a Horse Driver. On the 22^nd May 1916 Robert went to the Swan Barracks in Perth to enlist in the AIF. He was found to be physically fit, with the medical examiner recording Robert’s physical attributes as;

Height:                                     5 feet 6 & ½ inches;

Weight:                                    153lbs;

Chest Measurement:               35-38 inches;

Complexion:                            Fresh;

Eyes:                                       Blue;

Hair:                                        Light Brown;

Religious Denomination:         Presbyterian;

Distinctive Marks:                    Scar on left knee.

After his successful enlistment Robert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the No.70 Training Depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work at this depot and on the 21^st June 1916 he was transferred into the 17^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group for the next few months in WA, however on the 22^nd September 1916 Robert was transferred into the 5^th Reinforcements to the 43^rd Battalion AIF. Though a South Australian unit, the 43^rd Battalion would receive Western Australian reinforcements due to not enough men enlisting in SA.

On the 9^th November 1916 Robert boarded the HMAT Argyllshire in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England, arriving at Devonport Harbour on the 10^th January 1917. After being disembarked the men were sent to the Salisbury Plains where they were taken on strength of the 11^th Training Battalion. Rob trained with this group for the next few weeks but on the 25^th March he was admitted to Fargo Military Hospital suffering from influenza. On the 5^th April Robert was released and sent back to the 11^th Training Battalion at Durrington Camp.

On the 22^nd May Robert was in a draft of soldiers leaving camp for France. After the journey across the Channel from Southampton; Robert arrived at Le Havre where he was sent into the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot. Instead of then being sent on to the 43^rd Battalion, Robert was reassigned to the 12^th Battalion AIF.

Robert was officially taken on strength of the 12^th Battalion on the 15^th June 1917. The 12^th Battalion had just begun a rest period out of the line and so Robert was able to enjoy the next three months which were largely spent on training and battalion sporting activities. In early September 1917 the Battalion made their way to the Ypres front where they would take part in the current offensive drive towards Passchendaele. On the 20^th September the 12^th Battalion took part in the Battle of Menin Road and they successfully took their objectives, however Robert had been wounded in the neck. He was evacuated to the 6^th Australian Field Ambulance and then to the 2^nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station for further treatment. Fortunately the wound was not serious but Robert would spend the next month in Convalescent Depots in the French countryside for recovery.

Robert rejoined the 12^th Battalion on the 25^th October 1917 when they were still in the Passchendaele region though the unit soon moved to the Messines/Warneton sector where they spent the 1917/18 winter. On the 21^st March 1918 the Germans launched their spring offensive which broke the line of the 3^rd and 5^th British Armies and they subsequently were making a speedy advance towards Amiens. The 3^rd and 4^th Australian Divisions were initially sent to stop the advance and were closely followed by the 2^nd and 5^th Divisions. The 1^st Australian Division moved south in early April but had just reached Amiens when news of another breakthrough came to them up north from where they had just left, so the 1^st Australian Division returned north to the Hazebrouck region. The 12^th Battalion, as part of the 1^st Australian Division, would spend April to July 1918 on this front, with the 12^th seeing much action around Merris and Meteren. Robert came through these actions unscathed and in early August 1918 the 1^st Australian division returned to Amiens to take part in the planned offensive.

On August 8^th 1918, Australian, British, Canadian and French soldiers took part in the great offensive which broke the German lines and sent them into retreat. The 12^th Battalion came into the action on August 9/10 and seemed to be in constant action until mid September. During these operations against the German’s Robert’s bravery came under special notice and he was awarded the Military Medal. The official recommendation reads;

“During operations east of Proyart from August 23 to 26 1918, Aitken, while acting as a Platoon runner under very heavy machine gun fire and concentrated artillery fire kept continuous communication between his platoon and the company commander and also with the company on the flank. Though finally completely exhausted by continuous work he continued his work and showed the greatest readiness to carry each message, his work was of great value in keeping communications over a very extended front.”

The 12^th Battalion saw their last action on September 18^th and they were then pulled out of the line for a rest. They were about to return to the front in November when the Armistice was announced. On the 17^th November Robert was sent to the 3^rd Field Ambulance ill and he was then transferred to hospital in Boulogne. Robert rejoined the 12^th Battalion on Christmas Eve 1918 and he remained with them up till the 27^th March 1919. He was then sent to England to await a berth on a transport ship. On the 1^st June 1919 he boarded the HMAT Somali, and set sail for Australia, arriving at Fremantle on the 8^th July 1919. Robert Aitken was discharged from the AIF on the 15^th August 1919. After a short time back in Fremantle, Robert returned to Tasmania.

Robert Aitken died on the 17^th November 1956 in Smithton Tasmania