Dewar, Robert Brodie

25977 Private Robert Brodie Dewar - 3rd Australian Division Ammunition Column

Robert Brodie Dewar was born in Glasgow Scotland on the 28th March 1886 to Robert and Helen Dewar. He was one of several siblings, with Robert 1874 (died 1875), Margaret 1880, John 1882, Jane 1884, Elizabeth 1890 and Louisa 1892. Robert was educated and had his early years in Glasgow and after leaving school he took up work as a Clerk.

According to the 1901 census Robert was still living in Glasgow. During this time he served for eight years in the Scottish Militia forces.

His father died in 1907 and in 1911 Robert and his brother John travelled to Australia on the 23rd September 1911, arriving in Fremantle in November 1911.

They took up residence at 111 Forrest Street Fremantle. (Later renumbered to 32 Forrest Street)

Robert helped begin the Fremantle Caledonians Football Club before the Great War as at that time Fremantle had a strong Scottish community. However the bulk of the team went off to fight in the Great War and not all made it home.

In the team photo below Robert is pictured far right in the back row.

Robert had tried to enlisted in 1915 but was knocked back due to his teeth. He had these fixed and he enlisted again in February 1916. The medical examiner passed Robert as fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 128lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Auburn.

After his successful enlistment Robert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.53 Training Depot. He spent a week being taken through the basics of infantry training but on the 22nd March 1916 was transferred to the Artillery Reinforcements.

As the Artillery was being trained in Victoria, Robert and the other West Australians were transferred east to the Maribyrnong Camp. Robert spent the next four months in Victoria going through Artillery training.

On the 3rd June 1916 he was assigned to the 3rd Australian Division Ammunition Column reinforcements. This group departed from Port Melbourne on the 1st August 1916 aboard the transport ship HMAT Orsova. The ship then set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 14th September 1916.

After being disembarked Robert was sent to the Artillery training grounds at Larkhill on the Salisbury Plains. He would train here for the next few months. On the 25th February 1917 he was transferred to France and joined the Base Depot Camp at Etaples. He remained here for nearly a month. Then on the 24th March 1917 he was taken on strength of the 3rd Australian Division Artillery.

The Division Ammunition Column supplied ammunition to the artillery batteries from the supply dumps. As the roads they used to the front were well known to the Germans they were often under long range German artillery fire.

When Robert joined his unit they were in the southern Belgian sector around Ploegsteert. In June 1917 the 3rd Division fought at the Battle of Messines so it would have been a busy time for Robert to keep the ammunition supplied. They were in the Messines sector from June to August 1917. They then transferred to the Ypres front where they remained from September to November 1917.

From December 1917 to March 1918 the Australians were situated between Messines and Ypres in Belgium.

On the 23rd February 1918 Robert had a two week furlough to the UK. After i=his return from leave, the Germans launched their offensive on March 21st 1918. They broke through the British front further south, with the result that the Australian Divisions were sent south from Belgium to the Somme River sector near Villers-Bretonneux. From late March to July 1918 the 3rd Australian Division were based in this sector.

On the 8th August 1918 the large advance from Amiens front commenced when Australian, British and Canadian Divisions broke through the German lines. For the next few months the artillery followed up the infantry advances until they were pulled out of the line in October 1918.

Robert came through all this time unscathed and he was still with his unit when the Armistice was announced on 11th November 1918. After the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France.

On the 10th January 1919 he was granted a month's furlough to the UK and when he returned to France in February 1919 he only had a few more weeks of service. On the 2nd April 1919 Robert returned to England and was sent to the AIF Camp at Codford. He would remain here while waiting to be assigned a berth on a transport ship home.

On the 1st June 1919 Robert boarded the transport ship Somali and set sail for Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 8th July 1919.

Robert was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd August 1919. He then returned home where he resumed work for DJ Fowler. He was still living in Forrest Street during the 1920's. He also again became heavily involved in the Fremantle Caledonians Football Club.

Robert got married on the 14th August 1926 at Scots Church Fremantle to Eunice Emily Bird and they had a son called Bobbie.

Sadly Robert died on the 30th July 1929 aged 43 in Fremantle. The Daily News edition of 24th August 1929 published an obituary;

LATE Mr. ROBERT DEWAR

The late Mr. Robert Brodie Dewar, accountant, of Messrs, D. and J. Fowler Ltd., of Fremantle, passed away on July 30 at the age of 43 years. Born at Glasgow, Scotland, the deceased arrived in Western Australia 17 years ago. He has resided in the metropolitan area since his arrival, with the exception of the time he was away during the Great War with the 3rd Division Ammunition

Column. Mr. Dewar was an enthusiastic member of the Fremantle Caledonian Society, and held various offices from time to time. He also took a keen Interest In the Court Royal Oak, A.O.F, and was Past Chief Ranger of that order. The late Mr. Dewar was formerly secretary of the Caledonian Soccer Football Club, and will be keenly missed by that body. About twelve months ago he was forced to give up his many activities on account of ill-health, which was ultimately the cause of his sad demise. He was popular and esteemed, and will be missed by a very large circle of friends. A widow and a young son survive him.

The funeral cortege moved from his late residence. 111 Forrest-street, Fremantle East, on Wednesday afternoon, July 31, and proceeded to the local cemetery. The Rev. A. E. Bryce officiated at the graveside In the presence of a very large gathering. The pall-bearers were: Messrs. A. N. Lord and J. W. Hugall (D. and J. Fowler Ltd.), C. Doig (president), Fremantle Caledonian Society, C. W. Irving (secretary Court Royal Oak), A.O.F., and J. R. Kirk (president) and G. L. Brown (Caledonian Soccer Football Club). The chief mourners were: Mrs. R. B. Dewar (wife), Mr, J. Dewar (brother), Mrs, W. Mead (sister), Mr. and Mrs. J. Bird (parents-in-law), and Messrs, W. Mead and C. J. and W. D. Bird (brothers-in-law). The casket was borne to the graveside by Messrs. A. Marr (captain), T. and G. Guthrie, R. Utting, J. Durwood, and J. Monteath (of the Caledonian Football Club). The Bungalow Tennis Club was also numerously represented. Numerous wreaths, floral tributes, and other tokens of sympathy have been received by the bereaved relatives. The funeral arrangements were in the hands of Messrs. Arthur E. Davies and Co. of Fremantle and Hollywood.