Davidson, Robert Ednie

Lieutenant Robert Ednie Davidson - 16th Battalion AIF

Robert Ednie Davidson was born in Perth WA in 1896 to Robert and Flora Davidson. The family appears to have moved to Bunbury shortly after Roberts' birth but then returned to Perth and prior to the Great War took up residence in Fremantle.

Robert was working as a Clerk for G Evans & Co Fremantle. G. Evans & Co. was a photography studio located in Fremantle, described in historical newspaper articles as having a beautiful entrance with artistically designed showcases and a handsome, polished staircase. The studio was known for its artistic grace, with well-furnished dressing rooms and a studio planned for perfect lighting. The firm was also known as Greenham and Evans.

On the 12th March 1916 Robert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for service with the medical examiner recording Bob's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 10 & 1/2 inches tall

Weight - 161lbs;

Chest Measurement - 36 & 1/2 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Fair.

After his successful enlistment Bob was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.61 Training Depot where he was taken through the basics of infantry work. On the 1st May 1916 he was then assigned to the 15th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group for two months but then decided to apply to become a Non Commissioned Officer and was subsequently sent to the NCO School at Claremont Showgrounds camp. Bob trained at the NCO School from the 8th July to 10th August 1916.

After completing this course successfully Bob returned to Blackboy Hill Camp and was assigned to No.1 Depot Battalion and was promoted to Corporal and then Sergeant.

Robert must have shown good leadership abilities as he was now sent across to Duntroon in New South Wales to undergo Officer Training.

On his return to WA in January 1917 Bob was sent to join the 25th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion. At this stage he still held the rank of Sergeant. He helped train the new recruits for this group over the next few months and in May 1917 was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

He was returned to the Training Depot for a further stay to help the new recruits and on the 8th September 1917 was attached to the 27th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion. This group left Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship Canberra on the  23rd November 1917.

Bob and his group disembarked from the ship at Suez and reboarded another ship which took them to England however it was a long voyage as the ship wen via Taranto in Italy. They eventually arrived at Southampton on the 30th January 1918.

Bob then left the ship and was marched into the 13th Training Battalion at Fovant Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Bob spent the next three months in England at the 13th Training Battalion. On the 29th April 1918 he left England for France and joined the 16th Battalion on the 4th May 1918. The 16th Battalion were then in the vicinity of Hamel and Villers-Bretonneux.

Bob served with the 16th Battalion for a month when he came down ill and was evacuated to hospital. He was away from his unit for several weeks, only rejoining the 16th Battalion on the 8th August 1918.

He joined them in time for their advance on the first day of the Battle of Amiens. The 16th Battalion advanced next to the Somme River and took their objectives despite having received heavy fire from the other side of the Somme River where British troops had not yet taken their objectives.

However Bob came through unscathed and he served with the 16th Battalion up to the 18th September 1918, which was their last action in the war at Le Veuguier. After this the 16th Battalion was withdrawn for a well deserved period of rest and on the 19th September Bob was sent to attend a course at the 4th Army School. Bob rejoined the 16th Battalion on the 5th October 1918.

On the 15th October 1918 Bob was granted a two week furlough and on his return was promoted to Lieutenant. After the Armistice on the 11th November, the 16th Battalion moved up to what had been part of German occupied Belgium. They remained here for the next few months.

From the 1st to 18th March 1919 Bob was granted another period of leave, but he returned and remained with the 16th Battalion in Belgium until the unit was dissolved.

(Picture below of Bob in 1919 in Belgium)

On the 9th May 1919 Robert left France and returned to England to await being allotted a berth on a troopship returning home. On the 12th July 1919 he boarded the ship Indarra and set sail for Australia.

He retained links to his Army days by becoming a member of the Reserve where he still held the rank of Lieutenant. In 1921 he was living at 'Scottish House' in Phillimore Street Fremantle.

In 1922 in Perth Robert married Emily Eugenie Follington. Emily, also from Fremantle, had been a nurse with the Australian Army Nursing Service in the Great War and they most likely met during their service. They were married on December 23rd 1922 at St George's Cathedral Perth. They then took up residence in Mt Lawley.

Robert was a keen golfer and in latter years wrote;

Golfing at Yokine : being a brief history of the Western Australian Golf Club Incorporated, 1928-1967

Robert lived a long life, passing away on the 23rd October 1981.