Linsey, Robert Joseph
6536 Private Robert Joseph Linsey (Lindsey) - 32nd Battalion AIF
Robert Joseph Linsey was born in Fremantle WA on the 22nd April 1899 to Robert and Maria Linsey (Lindsey).
Robert was educated locally and after leaving school he took up work as a labourer.
During this time the family were living at 10 Russell Street South Fremantle (later renumbered to 26 Russell).
On the 14th April 1916 Robert enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. Due to being underage when he enlisted Robert altered his name from Lindsey to Linsey. The medical examiner passed him as fit for service, and recorded Robert's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 5 & 3/4 inches tall;
Weight - 124lbs;
Chest Measurement - 32-24 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Fair.
After his successful enlistment, Robert was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.63 Training Depot. He had a few weeks being taken through the basics of infantry training and was then assigned to the 21st Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF.
He trained with this group in WA for the next few months and on the 11th October 1915 his reinforcement group entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Port Macquarie. The ship then set sail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 12th December 1916. Robert and his group were then disembarked and sent to the 4th Training Battalion at Codford Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He would train here for the next few months.
On the 28th February 1917 Rob was sent across to France and was marched into the 4th Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Etaples. He spent four weeks here but instead of joining the 16th Battalion he was reassigned and would now be joining the 32nd Battalion AIF.
He was officially taken on strength of the 32nd Battalion on the 28th March 1917. The 32nd Battalion were then situated near Bapaume and spent the next few weeks near the Hindenburg Line positions at Noreuil and Lagnicourt. In May 1917 the 32nd Battalion saw action during the Second Battle of Bullecourt.
In June 1917, the 32nd Battalion, as part of the 5th Division AIF, were given a three month rest period, much of which time was taken up by training and sporting activities. During this time Robert was sent on a course for the use of pigeons in communication signalling.
In September 1917, the 32nd Battalion headed into Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. They saw action through September and October 1917 at Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele. On the 13th October 1917 Robert was hit in the thigh by shrapnel. He was taken by stretcher bearers to the 3rd Field Ambulance where initial treatment was given, and was then sent on to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station. Further medical work was done on Robert's wound here and he was then put on an ambulance train which took him to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen.
Robert had a week here and then on the 22nd October 1917 was shipped to England. On arrival Robert was admitted to Queen Mary's Military Hospital at Whalley Lane. He remained here until the 29th November 1917 when he was then transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. He spent another month there and was then transferred to No.3 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott.
Robert remained at Hurdcott for the next two months and on the 14th March 1918 was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He had a few weeks here and then returned to France on the 9th April 1918. Robert spent the next month at the Australian Base Depot at Le Havre and then was taken back on strength of the 32nd Battalion on the 10th May 1918.
As a result of the Germans offensive of March 21st 1918, the Australian divisions were sent south to the Somme to help stop this advance. The 32nd Battalion went to an area near Hamelet and then took up part of the front line. Either side of them in April 1918 were large attacks at Dernancourt and Villers-Bretonneux, however their front remained quiet. In May 1918 the 32nd Battalion were at Vaux sur Somme. The 32nd Battalion remained near the Somme and Villers-Bretonneux through to July 1918.
On the 22nd July 1918, Robert fell fractured his hand and after a few days at the 9th General Hospital at Rouen, he was then shipped to England. He was admitted to Kitchener Military Hospital at Brighton and then on the 10th August 1918 was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Three days later on the 13th August 1918 he was granted a two week furlough. When this leave period was over, Robert reported into No.4 Command Depot Camp at Hurdcott. He had two weeks here and then on the 10th September 1918 was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell.
Robert returned to France on the 4th October 1918 and after a week at the base depot, he rejoined the 32nd Battalion on the 11th October 1918. The 32nd Battalion was now on a well deserved rest period out of the front line. When the Armistice was announced a month later, they were still on a rest period.
After the Germans had withdrawn to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. They would remain here through to 1919. On the 24th January 1919 Robert was sent to England on two weeks leave, returning to France on the 15th February 1919. The following day Robert reported ill and was sent to the 7th General Hospital at Wimereux where he was diagnosed with venereal disease. On the 25th February 1919 he was shipped to England and was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford. He spent a month here and on the 28th March 1919 was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth.
On the 19th April 1919 Robert boarded the transport ship Marathon and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 31st May 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on the 8th July 1919.
On his return home Robert continued to live at Russell Street South Fremantle.
In 1923 he married Elsie Sophia Hynes in Fremantle, and they would have four children, Lewis, Austin, Neill and Robert.
In 1925 they moved to Subiaco and then went south to a Group Farm/Soldier Settlement Scheme near Busselton. He did that for a few years before returning to live in Shenton Park with his wife Elsie.
Robert enlisted again for World War Two, signing up in 1939 (W243227). Served with the 10th garrison Battalion with the rank Warrant Officer II. He served around Perth, Swanbourne and Fremantle before having a few months on Rottnest Island. In May 1942 Robert was transferred to the 12th Labour Company and in 1944 his unit was transferred to Queensland. In 1945 he returned to WA and was discharged from the Army in 1946.
Robert continued to live in Shenton Park after the war.
He died at Hollywood Repatriation Hospital in 1976.