Landgren, Robert Clarence
17535 Sapper Robert Clarence Landgren - 1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron
Robert Clarence Landgren was born in Brunswick Victoria on the 20th August 1893 to Andrew and Alice Landgren. He had two siblings, Anders born in 1897 and Axel in 1898. His father was Swedish born but had been naturalised as Australian.
The family lived in Victoria till the 1900's and then came across to Western Australia. They took up residence in 38 Preston Point Road East Fremantle. (Later renumbered to 16 Preston Point Road)
Robert worked for the WA Government Railway as a Porter, Shunter, and Telegraphist from 1909 onwards.
On the 26th November 1916 Robert enlisted for service in the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 10 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 177lbs;
Chest Measurement - 37-41 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Fair.
Upon his successful enlistment, Robert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and due to his telegraph working background, Robert was sent to the Signals Depot. He was then sent across to the engineers training camp at Moore Park in NSW for further specialised training.
He had a few months of training in NSW and was assigned to the Signal Squadron reinforcements. On the 9th May 1917 Robert went to Sydney Harbour where he boarded the transport ship Port Sydney and set sail for India. After being disembarked the men were put aboard another ship which took them to Mesopotamia (Iraq). Robert arrived at Basra on the 25th June 1917.
For the next 16 months Robert would operate as a signaller in Mesopotamia in Basra, Baghdad and along the Tigris River.
Robert's unit drove Ford Motor cars and Daimler lorries to provide vital wireless communications across the harsh deserts and remote regions of Mesopotamia. According to the Australian War Memorial, they operated;
under the harsh, sweltering conditions of the Mesopotamian Campaign, they provided communication between base areas and forward troops along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers... Each wireless troop was divided into smaller operating sections. Every section typically consisted of 7 highly trained wireless operators and 6 drivers... Because wireless telegraphy was in its infancy, stations required large antenna installations. Operators often set up on exposed hilltops, making them frequent targets for sniper fire, while drivers were able to take cover.
Robert served with this unit through to the end of the war. (Pictured below Motor Wireless Squadron vehicle February 1919)
In 1918, the Motor Wireless Section had also supported the operations of Dunsterforce. Their mission was to cross into Persia (Iran) and the Caucasus to train local forces, protect the Baku oil fields, and prevent enemy expansion toward India. It is unclear whether Robert participated in this foray.
On the 26th February 1919 Robert left Mesopotamia and returned to India. He spent a few days in Bombay and then, leaving there on the 5th March 1919, went to Calcutta. On the 21st March 1919 Robert left India aboard the transport ship SS Janus and returned to Adelaide Australia on the 14th April 1919. He then made his way back to Fremantle.
After arriving back in Fremantle, Robert was checked for any ailments which included being struck down with malaria during his time in Mesopotamia. The Malarial hospital in Fremantle was at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks. Robert was discharged from the AIF on the 26th September 1919.
After returning home Robert continued his service with WAGR as a shunter and guard. During this time the continued to live in Preston Point Road East Fremantle.
Robert was married on the 5th March 1924 in West Perth to Ivy Emma Rowland and a son Robert was born in East Fremantle in 1926. They then moved to 8 Alfred Road North Fremantle.
His father died in Fremantle on the 16th May 1929.
Robert and the family moved to Northam in the late 1920's before spending a few years in Armadale and then Canning.
Robert had been ill for a few years and died on the 13th April 1936 in Canning aged 42. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Methodist MON B3 0148. The West Australian newspaper from on the 15th April 1936, published a small obituary of Robert and concluded with;