The Australian Boer War Memorial
Anzac Parade Canberra
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Trooper (later Sergeant) Robert Mason |
Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: Robert Mason
Ancestor's date of birth: 11/1880
Ancestor's date of death: 1953
Cause of Death: Detail not provided
Service and Life Before the Boer War: Born at Waterloo NSW.
Service Number: 1942
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Sydney
Unit: 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 1901
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): SGT, Date Effective: 02/02/1918
Murray Page: 125
Contingent: Fifth New South Wales
Ship: Maplemore, Date of Sailing: 17/03/1901
Memorial details: AIF Wall of Remberance Woronora Cemetary Sydney
Awards/Decorations/Commendations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Transvaal, Orange Free State, SA 1901 and SA 1902 clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Height 190 cm, weight 68 kg (1915), of fair complexion with blue eyes and fair hair.
Reasons to go and fight: Sense of adventure with his brother Daniel.
Details of service in war: April 1901 - April 1902 in Free State and East Transvaal including Boer breakthrough at Langverwacht (24 February 1902).
Service and life after the Boer War: By 1915 he was married to Kate Mason, was living in Kogarah, New South Wales and employed as a 'machinist' on the railways. Enlisted in the AIF on 22 May 1915, Joining the 1st Light Horse as a reinforcement trooper at Gallipoli on 13 November 1915, there he experienced cold fine weather with little fighting until the 1LH withdrew on 19/20 December 1915. He saw action at the defence of Rumani (Palestine) in June. After a period in hospital for haemoroids, he was posted to 12 LH on 20 January 1917. On 24 February he was made a corporal in 4 LH. Wounded 19 April 1917 at Gaza, he spent some time in hospital at Cairo. 4 July 1917 saw him serving in 12 LH where he took part in the charge at Beersheba (came back from another stint in hospital two days before), promoted Sergeant on 3 November 1917. In January 1918 he was back in hospital 'nervous exhaustion' (today it would be called 'post traumatic stress'). He did not see action again, returning to Australia 22 December 1918. He was still in hospital receiving treatment in July 1919; and rated as being only able to perform at a rate half that of a normal worker.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Shirley Ann Willmott, Sydney NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Niece
© New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum Incorporated ABN 94 630 140 881
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