Guthrie, Robert Samuel
5367 Private Robert Samuel Guthrie - 28th Battalion AIF
Robert Samuel Guthrie was born in Castlefin Donegal Ireland on the 21st July 1889 to William and Ellen Guthrie. He was one of thirteen siblings born into the family.
His father died in 1901 and in 1903 his mother remarried to a Robert McCormack.
The family arrived in Western Australia in 1911 and initially took up residence in Perth before moving to Fremantle and living at 48 Healey Street Beaconsfield. (later renamed to Hale Street)
Robert soon found employment in Fremantle as a Horse Driver.
On the 28th February 1916 in Fremantle Robert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording Robert's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 4 inches tall;
Weight - 132lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-35 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Dark.
Upon his successful enlistment Robert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.50 Training Depot. He spent a few days there being taken through the basics of infantry work and on the 27th March 1916 was assigned to the 14th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF.
Robert would train with this group in WA for the next six months. On the 7th August 1916 Robert and his reinforcement group entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Miltiades. The ship then set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 25th September 1916.
After being disembarked Robert and his group were sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He spent the next two months here training.
On the 16th November 1916 Robert was sent to France and was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot. It appears someone in Robert's group had fallen ill and so he and others were sent to the segregation camp. He would remain there for a month. Robert was not ill himself and upon release was then sent to join the 28th Battalion, being taken on strength on the 9th January 1917.
The 28th Battalion were then situated on the Somme battlefield near Flers undergoing a very freezing French winter. They would remain here through to the end of February 1917.
In March 1917 the Germans began their withdrawal to their pre-prepared defensive position known as the Hindenburg Line. The Australian and British units pursued this withdrawal closely and several sharp battles took place around what was known as the Outpost Line villages.
On the 26th March 1917 the 28th battalion took part in the successful capture of Lagnicourt village. During the action Robert was shot in the arm. He was taken for treatment to the 5th Field Ambulance where he was initially patched up and then sent to the Casualty Clearing Station. He was then sent on an ambulance train to the French town of Rouen where he was admitted to No.3 Stationary Hospital.
Fortunately Robert's wound was not severe and he only spent five days in hospital but was then sent to a convalescent camp at Rouen for two weeks. On the 18th April 1917 he was then sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples.
Robert was now taken on strength of the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot and was promoted to Corporal. He worked here for the next few months. On the 6th July 1917 he got into trouble for falsifying a document and was then lost his Corporal rank. Ten days later he rejoined the 28th Battalion.
The 28th Battalion were currently on a three month rest period out of the front line. In September 1917 they moved to Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres.
On the 18th September 1917 Robert was evacuated ill with trench fever. He was sent to the 55th General Hospital at Boulogne and only spent a few days here before being shipped to England. Upon arrival in England on the 22nd September 1917 Robert was admitted to the Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington Kent.
It was a severe illness as Robert remained under care until the 9th November 1917. He was then well enough to be released from hospital and was given a two week furlough. On the 23rd November 1917 Robert then went to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. He was based there for the next two months before being transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell.
Robert was based there for two more weeks and on the 7th February 1918 returned to France. Robert spent a few days at the Australian Base Depot at Le Havre but was then taken back on strength of the 28th battalion on the 13th February 1918. The 28th Battalion were then situated in Belgium, holding the line south east of Ypres, towards Messines.
On March 21st 1918 the Germans broke through the British front further south and the Australian divisions were sent from Belgium to the Somme region to help stop this German advance.
Robert and the 28th Battalion came into contact with the Germans around Dernancourt in April 1918 and were in this region for a few weeks. They then moved to the Morlancourt and Ville-Sur-Ancre sector. On the 21st May 1918 in the line at Ville-sur-Ancre Robert was wounded by shrapnel hitting him in the thigh.
He was taken to the 5th Field Ambulance for initial treatment and then was sent to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station. Further work was done on his wound and he was then put on an ambulance train which took him to the 7th Canadian General Hospital at Etaples. Robert remained in this hospital till the 3rd June 1918 and he was then shipped across to England, where upon arrival he was sent to Norwich War Hospital.
Robert was at Norwich for around seven weeks as on the 20th July 1918 he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He spent nine days here and was then transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.
Due to his wound, Robert had been classed as unfit for further service and would remain at Weymouth for a hospital ship to bring him back to Australia.
On the 15th September 1918 Robert boarded the transport ship Arawa and set sail for home, arriving in Fremantle on the 10th November 1918. The following day the Armistice was declared.
On his return Robert was sent to No.8 Australian Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle.
Robert was discharged from the AIF on the 12th March 1919. He then returned home to Healey Street Beaconsfield
In 1919 in Fremantle Robert married Daisy Violet Hicks and a daughter Natalie was born in 1922, followed by Stanley in 1923 and Mervyn in 1935.
The family initially set up residence at 24 Agnes Street South Fremantle (later renumbered to 4 Agnes) and Robert was working as a Storeman.
In 1925 the family moved to 77 Stephen Street Fremantle and Robert was now working as a clerk. (Stephens later renamed to Stevens Street and 77 became No.19)
By the 1930's the family had moved to Coode Street South Perth and in 1943 to 2 pilgrim Street South Perth. During this time Robert continued to work as a clerk.
Robert Guthrie died on the 29th September 1966 aged 77. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.