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Corkhill, Maurice

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Corkhill, Robert Paul

Lieutenant Robert Paul Corkhill DCM - 44th Battalion AIF

Robert Paul Corkhill was born in Melbourne Victoria in 1878 to Robert and Mary Corkhill. He was one of five siblings, with, Joseph 1879, George 1881, Michael 1884 and Maurice 1887.

After leaving school Robert took up a blacksmith apprenticeship in Victoria for six years duration, after which time he was fully qualified to work on his own.

The Corkhill family then moved across to Western Australia in the 1890's and took up residence in North Fremantle. Robert Corkhill (snr) had secured employment with John Lysaght Australia Ltd in North Fremantle.

Robert had been serving in the Western Australian Commonwealth Forces prior to federation and then went to serve in the Boer War in South Africa with the 1st Western Australian Mounted Infantry. For his bravery in battle Robert had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and a Mentioned in Despatches.

The Western Mail on 22nd December 1900 published an article detailing Robert Corkhill's actions;

LANCE-CORPORAL MESSER.

THE HEROIC ACTION OF PRIVATE CORKHILL.

The name of Messer has been prominently associated with the West Australian contingents, and the interest taken in them. Mrs. Messer, of Mount-street, Perth, devoted her energies to organising movements for the provision of comforts for the West Australian soldiers at the front, and although, because of the vagaries of or stress of work pressed on the Army Service Corps, the many little necessaries so thoughtfully provided and worked for reached the recipients many months after they were absolutely needed, our troopers gratefully remember the kindly work of the lady named. Two of Mrs. Messer's sons—known to their many Perth intimates as "Jacques" and "Tom"—were members of the first and second contingents. Both have earned some distinction in the various hot engagements in which our men were prominent, and both are back again from the war. "Jacques," who was a lance-corporal under the late Major Moor, reached home again by the R.M.S. Ortona, which arrived at Fremantle on Thursday, having been invalided after sustaining a wound from a Boer bullet, which, almost miraculously, did not cause his death. When the "West Australian" correspondent (Mr. Cameron) contracted enteric fever, he selected Mr. Messer to carry on his work, and our readers will doubtless remember the several interesting and smartly-written despatches which Mr. Messer forwarded us early this year. These letters, written in moments snatched from the long hours of duty, gave some vivid description of some of the splendid work done by the gallant company under Major Moor, and, subsequent to that distinguished officer's death on the field, under Captain Parker. Lance-Corporal Messer was one of the honoured few who

composed the West Australian forces when they so distinguished themselves at Slingersfontein as to make that engagement one of the most famous of the war. Lance-Corporal Messer was one of four brave fellows who ran the gauntlet of dozens of Boer rifles on either side, in galloping away in order to obtain reinforcements, for the small band

of heroes who were holding the kopje against hundreds of the enemy. In casual conversation with one of our representatives, on Saturday, Mr. Messer told many interesting things of the doings of the colonials at the front, and of the work of the West Australians in particular. In common with many other troopers who have returned, he complains of the want of attention to the needs of both horses and men by the commisariat department, and while he suffered with others both in respect to scarcity of food and clothing, he speaks in regretful terms of the sufferings of the horses.

Time and again, he says, horses and men got little to eat or drink for many long weary hours, because of the scarcity of the allowances and the cumbersome movements of the convoys, which particularly after the commencement of the movement northwards from Bloemfontein, were totally unable to follow up the rapid advance. Asked as to details of the manner of his being wounded, and the circumstances surrounding it, Mr. Messer spoke enthusiastically of the conduct of Trooper Corkhill, to whom he admits he owes his life. The war has been full of incidents

in which British and colonials performed deeds of heroism worthy of rank among the greatest deeds of British soldiers, and so numerous have they been that individual acts of gallantry and bravery are apt to pass with less notice than they are worthy of. Trooper Corkhill's gallant action in rescuing Lance-Corporal Messer from the withering fire of hundreds of Boer rifles as the wounded man lay on the open veldt helpless and writhing in agony, deserves a place among those which have made the British army so-famous. The company of West Australians, at the engagement at Diamond Hill, had advanced from cover into the open for a space of fully one hundred yards, whence enemy suddenly opened fire from behind the rocks, and the bullets fell like hail among the little band. "Back to cover," came the order, but not before Lance-Corporal Messer bad been brought to earth by a bullet, which went clean through his stomach, entering the body at one side and passing out at the other. The others got safely back behind cover, but the wounded man lay exposed on the open veldt. When, in his pain he moved, the bullets would raise little splutterings of dust all around him as they spat on the ground. Seeing the danger of his comrade, Private Corkhill, the smallest man in the company, forsook his cover and dashed across the intervening space of 100 yards, making a running target for hundreds of Boer marksmen. He reached Messer safely, and, finding that he was able to move, commenced to crawl back through the grass with him on his back. Ping! Ping! came dozens of bullets, finding a lodgment in the ground on every side. Finding the process too slow, and seeing that it meant certain death to expose themselves too long, Corkhill manfully lifted Messer up, got him across his shoulder, and, half running, half staggering, moved back towards cover.

Meanwhile the bullets whistled around the gallant fellow and his burden, sometimes within inches of them. Half the distance had been successfully covered when the others, who had been breathlessly watching the heroic fellow, saw that he was collapsing. Sergeant Lessey dashed out and met him, and the two brave fellows got over the other fifty yards to cover without injury. Messer recovered, and has come home. Corkhill is still fighting with the West Australians out on the kopjes and the veldt, and Lessey is back after sacrificing one of

his legs in his country's cause. Mr. Messer speaks enthusiastically of Corkhill's action, which has been commented upon by many journals.

Thanks to the fine medical skill of the doctors at the front, and the careful nursing which he got at the improvised hospital at Diamond Hill, at Pretoria and at Capetown, Mr. Messer recovered sufficiently to be invalided home to England.

It was stated in the newspapers at the time that but for their commanding officer being killed two weeks later, it was expected that Robert would have been awarded the Victoria Cross. However the Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded instead.

Robert survived his Boer War service without being wounded and then returned home to Fremantle.

Robert was selected to attend Coronation Contingent in London in 1902. He was pictured above in the West Australian Newspaper.

After his return home Robert resumed work for the WA Government Railways as a Blacksmith and was working at the Fremantle Depot. However when the Railway Workshops moved to Midland, Robert then moved from North Fremantle to Guildford.

On the 8th June 1914 Robert married Margaret Foley in Perth and they would go on to have three children, Pauline in 1915, Mary in 1916 and Beatrice in 1917.

They moved back to Thompson Road in North Fremantle.

On the 2nd October 1915 Robert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 6 & 1/4 inches;

Weight - 118lbs;

Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Steel Grey.

Upon his successful enlistment he was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.33 Training Depot. He was here till early 1916 when he was transferred to Claremont Camp and was assigned top "A" Company of the 44th Battalion AIF.

He was given the Regimental Number 9 and the rank of Sergeant. The 44th Battalion gradually came together through February and March 1916 and they trained hard through April and May 1916.

In May 1916 the 44th Battalion were presented with their colours by the citizens of Claremont. (pictured below - back row - Robert Corkhill on left Cyril Longmore in the middle and Thomas Hedley Porter on right)

The 44th Battalion departed from Fremantle Harbour aboard the transport ship Suevic on the 6th June 1916. The ship then set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 21st July 1916. The men were then disembarked and sent to the 3rd Australian Division training area on the Salisbury Plains. They would train here for the next few months.

In October 1916 Robert was promoted to Warrant Officer Class II.

On the 25th November 1916 Robert and the 44th Battalion departed for France. After their arrival they were sent to the Armentieres region of northern France. They would have their first experience of the Western Front in this sector.

On the 13th January 1917 Robert was promoted to Second Lieutenant. Five days later he was sent to hospital for treatment on a septic finger. He was sent to the 11t Field Ambulance and then the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent to the 8th Stationary Hospital at Wimereux. on the 8th February 1917 Robert was shipped to England where he was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital in Norwich.

Robert remained in hospital till the 15th March 1917. His hand now having improved he was sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs.

On the 14th May 1917 Robert returned to France and then joined his unit on the 22nd May 1917. The 44th Battalion were then in the Ploegsteert sector of southern Belgium preparing for the Messines Offensive.

The 44th Battalion launched a raid on German positions on June 4th 1917, a few days prior to the Messines offensive. Therefore when the advance commenced on June 7th they weren't in the initial phase but became involved in the capture and consolidation of the 2nd and 3rd German lines. Robert came through this unscathed and on the 23rd June 1917 was promoted to Lieutenant.

He remained with his Battalion at Messines till then end of August 1917. Robert had a few close calls with exploding shells during Messines and also was affected by the German gas that was saturated at Messines. Given a rest from the battlefield, he was then sent to England and put on the staff of the 11th Training Battalion. He was on staff at the 11th Training Battalion for the next few months. Due to health reasons as he was also suffering from bronchitis, Robert was returned to Australia on six months leave, departing England on the 17th November 1917.

Robert was kept on the Military books in the 5th Military District through the first six months of 1918, but his health had not improved to the extent that he could be sent back to France.

Robert was thus discharged from the AIF on the 13th August 1918.

During his absence, Margaret and the children had moved from Thompson Road to Queen Victoria Street Fremantle.

In 1918 they moved to Wright Street in East Perth and Robert resumed his career as a blacksmith.

Robert was still heavily involved in the South African veterans association as well as also joining the Returned and Services League.

Robert and his family lived in East Perth till 1930 when they moved to Eighth Avenue in Maylands, moving in 1943 to Railway Parade Maylands.

Robert Corkhill died at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital on the 3rd July 1951 aged 72. He was buried at Karrakatta cemetery plot Roman Catholic EC 0187.

(Photo of Robert courtesy of the Corkhill family)