Duncan, Robert William

296 Second Lieutenant Robert William Duncan - 11th Battalion AIF

Robert William Duncan was born in London England on the 4th June 1885. He was educated in London and after leaving school he took up employment as a clerk.

In the 1900's Robert migrated to Western Australia and took up residence in Fremantle. He also joined the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery and was based at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks and also serving at Fort Forrest and other sites around the Harbour.

Robert served in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery for two and a half years before leaving the service prior to the Great War. He then took up work as a Clerk in Fremantle and was living at Glyde Street East Fremantle, boarding at the home of Mr. J Holland.

On the 17th August 1914 Robert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 11 & 3/4 inches tall;

Weight - 184lbs;

Chest Measurement - 39-41 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Robert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to "C" Company of the 11th battalion AIF. The next few months were taken up with training. On the 1st September 1914 Robert was promoted to the rank of Corporal and the 20th November 1914 to Lance Sergeant.

Robert trained with his Battalion at Blackboy Hill Camp until the end of October 1914. News then came through with their orders to depart and on the 31st October 1914 they boarded the HMAT Ascanius in Fremantle Harbour. The ship then moved into Gage Roads and set sail on the 2nd November 1914.

After arriving in Egypt in early December 1914, the 11^th Battalion set up camp at Mena near Cairo and they would train here until early March 1915. During this time they received orders to change from eight companies to four, with the result that Robert’s “C” Company joined “D” Company to form a new “B” Company. 

In Egypt in January 1915 Robert went absent without leave for a day and as a punishment lost his Sergeants stripes and was reduced to the rank of Private.

In early March 1915 the 3^rd Brigade of the 1^st Division, to which the 11^th Battalion belonged; received orders to leave Egypt and proceed to Lemnos Island, off the coast of Turkey. Robert and the 11^th Battalion spent over six weeks at Lemnos Island, though they lived on the troopship, and only trained on the island. They also put much practise into disembarking from the ships into the smaller ships in preparation for the landing.

Towards the middle of April 1915 more Australian, New Zealand British, French and Indian troops began to appear on Lemnos Island and it was known the landing would take place soon. On the evening of April 24^th the 11^th Battalion departed Lemnos and steamed towards the Turkey. In the early hours of April 25^th the landing took place on the Turkish coast at what would become known as Anzac Cove with the 11^th Battalion actually landing at what was known as North Beach.

The Australians made their way inland and captured the land up to the 2^nd Ridge. Isolated parties of men continued forward but these were unsupported so returned or were killed by the Turks. By mid morning the Turkish forces had strongly attacked the Australian positions and several crucial battles sprung up along the 2^nd Ridge. Robert survived the first week of the action unscathed and then remained with the 11^th as the campaign turned into trench warfare.

On the 14th May 1915 Robert was wounded by shrapnel to the face and head. After treatment at the Field Ambulance where he was bandaged up Robert was sent to the Hospital ship Gascon. The ship then set sail for Egypt and upon arrival Robert was sent to the 15th General Hospital in Alexandria.

On the 4th June 1915 he was released from hospital and was sent to the Convalescent Camp at Mustapha. On the 10th June 1915 he was then returned to the Overseas Base Camp. Two days later o the 12th June 1915 Robert was seconded to duty with the Australian War Records Section.

On the 20th July 1915 he was promoted to Acting Corporal and remained at this rank till December 1915 when he was promoted to Corporal. He remained working for the War Records Section in Egypt and in March 1916 he was promoted to Staff Sergeant.

In May 1916 Robert was hospitalised in Alexandria Egypt with tonsilitis but returned to his unit after a week. 

Robert remained with the War Records section in Egypt until the 1st November 1916. He was then discharged from the AIF and took a promotion to the rank of Second Lieutenant to serve with the Egyptian Labor Corps. Robert returned to Fremantle in 1917.

After returning home, Robert served at the Artillery Barracks in Fremantle for a period of home service but in 1918 resumed his career at Fremantle Harbour as a Tally Clerk.

At this time Robert was living at a lodging house at 30 Adelaide street Fremantle. In 1927 he took a trip back to Egypt but then returned to WA.

By 1949  Robert was living at 28 Harvest Road North Fremantle.

He returned to England for a visit in 1951 and then returned to Australia, residing in Victoria. He died in Victoria in 1957.