Ancestor Details

Name of ancestor: Robert Joseph Luxton

Ancestor's date of birth: 10/02/1880

Ancestor's date of death: 11/04/1917

Cause of Death: Shot at Bullecourt

Service and Life Before the Boer War: A labourer from Camperdown NSW. Had 'superior' public school education.

Service Number: 697 (BMI) and 17 (1 ACH)

Colony or State of enlistment: Not Australia, Place of Enlistment: Natal, South Africa (BMI)

Unit: C Sqn Bethune's Mounted Infantry, then 1 Bn Australian Commonwealth Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 16/01/1900

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): LT, Date Effective: 25/03/1917

Murray Page: 169

Contingent: First Australian

Ship: Travelled privately to South Africa for service in the BMI.

Ship: Custodian, Date of Sailing: 18/02/1902 for service in 1 ACH.

Memorial details: Panel 76 Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France.

Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Natal and Transvaal clasps; King's South Africa Medal with SA 1902 clasp. British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Personal Characteristics: Height 172 cm, of dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair. Weight 70 kg (1915).

Reasons to go and fight: He wanted to do it.

Details of service in war: Served in Bethune's Mounted Infantry: enlisting 16 January 1900 discharged 6 April 1901. Initially served in Natal north of Ladysmith, including the battle of Alleman's Nek on 11 June where most of the Boer forces were cleared from the province. The latter part of his service with the BMI was in the South East Transvaal. March - May 1902 with 1 ACH on Natal border and west Transvaal.

Service and life after the Boer War: Returned to Australia: 9-13 August 1902 on the Drayton Grange. Married Isabella, had children Robert and Edna, was a farmer. Served 6 years 168 days in Royal Australian Artillery and during this period occupied the position of Staff Sergeant Major on Instructional Staff (Citizen forces) at Charters Towers, Queensland. Joined the AIF, 15 Battalion on 6 August 1915. Commissioned second lieutenant 29 October 1915, promoted lieutenant 25 March 1917. Served in France. Killed in action 11 April 1917. "Lieutenant Luxton was killed in the attack on morning 11 April 1917 made in the vicinity of Bullecourt towards Reincourt. He was seen dead by members of his unit, but as the enemy regained within a short time, this part of the ground. Nothing could be done as regards his burial and no further information could be obtained." (NAA dossier)

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Rodney Pickels, Wondai QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Grandson

Name of Descendant: Jennifer Kruger, Chincilla QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Granddaughter

Name of Descendant: Michael Thomas, Eatons Hill QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great Grandson

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