SAPPER ROBERT LLEWELLYN
6006 – 2nd Tunnelling Company / 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion
Robert Llewellyn was born in Eaglehawk, Victoria in 1872 the son of John and Jane (nee Evans) Llewellyn. Two of his siblings he was close to were his brother John (1862) and a sister Mary Jane (1865) who married Robert Christie in 1888. His usual place of residence was Sebastian, Vic. In 1914 he was a labourer at Glen Dhu, Tasmania.
On August 15, 1916 the forty-three year old labourer applied to enlist for active service abroad at Sheffield, Tasmania and passed the preliminary medical examination. On September 7 Attestation Forms were completed at Claremont, Tas. after he was declared fit for service. These reveal he was 164cms (5ft 4½ins) tall and weighed 60.45kgs (133lbs) with a chest expansion of 87-92cms (34-36ins). Fair was his complexion with blue eyes and fair hair. Wesleyan was his religious faith. Being unmarried his sister Mrs Robert Christy [Christie] of Eaglehawk, Vic was initially nominated as his next-of-kin but later changed to his brother John Llewellyn of Sebastian, Vic. He signed and took the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
He was immediately sent to the Miners’ Training Camp at Seymour, Vic for basic training and was assigned to the December, 1916 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies. His rank was Sapper and allotted the regimental number 6006.
The 516 Reinforcements departed Melbourne, Victoria on October 25, 1916 at 1.30pm aboard the transport HMAT A38 Ulysses. The Australian coastline disappeared from view on October 30, 1916 with the port of Durban reached at 11.30am on November 13, 1916. Windy weather was experienced going around the Cape arrived at Cape Town at 7am on November 19. Sierra Leone was the next port of call but their departure was delayed until December 14, 1916 as it was not safe to proceed further. Arrived at Plymouth, England on December 28, 1916 after 65 days at sea, with the troops disembarking at 1.30pm and detrained to the station at Tidworth. They marched into the Aust Details Camp at Perham Downs for further training for the front.
On January 29, 1917 the Reinforcements departed Folkstone for France and marched into the Aust General Base Depot at Etaples. Sapper Llewellyn was allotted to the 2nd Tunnelling Company on February 11, 1917 and taken on strength the next day in the field. He remained with the company until April 11, 1917 when he marched out to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion arriving on April 17. The 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines and through duties would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.
He was taken sick to the 7th Field Ambulance on June 10, 1917 then sent to the 61st Field Ambulance and admitted with Diarrhoea and transferred the next day to the 5th Divisional Rest Station. Five days later he entered the 2nd D.R.S. until discharged to duty on June 24, 1917.
On July 7, 1917 he departed the 3rd A.G.B.D. at Rouelles for a transfer to England as ‘PB’ [permanent to base]. Disembarked at Southampton from Havre on July 18, 1917 and marched into the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth. He was sent to the Australian Depot at Westham Camp to the Medical Board and his Statement of Case reads:
Disability:Age
Age last Birthday:46 years
Date of Disability:Prior to Enlistment
Origin of Disability:Prior to Enlistment
Essential Facts:He was evacuated to England with Rheumatism which was a chronic complaint prior to enlistment.
Reason Disability:Prior to Enlistment
Aggravated by:Active Service
Present Condition:Age is 46 years 7 months and looks it; complains of rheumatic pains in hips and legs, slight deafness.
Is it permanent:Yes
Capacity to Work:¼ % Disability
ClassificationC3
Finding:Permanently unfit for General Service and Temporarily Unfit for Home Service.
The same day a full Kit Inventory took place at the No. 2 Command Depot and the following articles were returned to Ordnance from his kit:
Braces, Water Bottle Carrier, Haversack, Mess Tin & Cover, Water Bottle, W.P. Suit.
At another Kit inspection on July 24 at Westham Camp he was issued with a Black Kit Bag to replace the deficiency following the return to Ordnance of 1 Pack and 2 Straps.
His final clothing and necessities Kit inspection was on July 30, 1917 at Monte Video camp where unserviceable items were withdrawn and returned to store being his razor and he paid for two Collar Badges then issued with the following articles:
Sea Kit Bag, D.S. Breeches, Cardigan, Comforter Cap, Pair Drawers, S.D. Jacket and Towel.
Sapper Llewellyn embarked from Devonport, Eng on August 25, 1917 for the return voyage to Australia for discharge due to Age on the H.T. A24 Benalla and his berth was a hammock. His next-of-kin received advice from Base Records on September 10, 1917 that he was returning to Australia. The ship docked on October 24, 1917 in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) and he entered the No. 5 Aust General Hospital on October 28, 1917 for a medical assessment with the Medical Referee Board. They found him to be overage and suffering Senility but with no incapacity and discharge was recommended. A Medical Report issued further essential case facts from 5th A.G.H.:
8/9/17-19/11/17Defective hearing, friction at left base. To be D.A.P.U.
8/10/17Enlisted 18 months ago. In firing line 9 months. In hospital 14 days
with sciatica and diarrhoea. Thence sent home. Has been a heavy
drinker and came here drunk. Complains of deafness.
Present condition:Heart sounds rather faint. Friction rub at L. base posteriorly. No pain. Reflexes x x x. Very deaf.
He had been released to the Staff Officer for Invalid Soldiers as Unfit.
While in hospital the following Offence took place:
No. 5 A.G.H.10.11.17
(1)Drunk
(2)A.W.L. 3 hours
(3)One flask of whiskey removed from him on his return
Misconduct aggravating illness.
Award:10 days C.B. [confined to barracks].
12/11/17
A questionnaire dated November 13, 1917 was filled out and asked if his former position as a miner was still open to him and he marked yes. What educational attainments did he have and he gave State School for the answer. The medic approved him fit to return to his previous occupation with the words ‘soon’ marked.
The Deputy Commissioner of Pensions, Melbourne, Vic sent a form for completion by the District Paymaster, Department of Defence which stated he had received 60cents (6/-) per day and there was no trace of the amount of allotment in their district.
Military Discharge was issued in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on December 3, 1917 as medically unfit. He was allotted a pension of $2 (20/-) per fortnight from December 4, 1917. Two days later his medical proceedings were forwarded to Base Records.
A memo dated December 13, 1917 regarding a receipt which had been handed to the Paymaster (3rd M.D.) regarding a Greatcoat, requested that a credit be allowed for this by the District Paymaster (6th M.D.) The Paymaster Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on January 3, 1918 replied to the District Paymaster (6th M.D) Hobart about their Memorandum of December 13, 1917 regarding the Greatcoat credit issue but as there was no debit against the ex-Sapper advised it was deemed unnecessary.
The copy of a non-effective Statement regarding discharge of ex-Sapper Llewellyn in the 3rd M.D. was forwarded from the 6th M.D. on March 30, 1918.
He returned to Tasmania and was residing in Irish Town in 1919.
On July 13, 1919 Robert Llewellyn died in New Town, Tasmania aged about 47 years and was buried in Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tas.
Sapper 6006 Robert Llewellyn, 2nd Tunnelling Company / 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion would have been entitled to wear the British War Medal (59542) and the Victory Medal (57921) in recognition of service for his country.
These medals were sent to the Barracks for collection but due to his death were returned unclaimed on May 10, 1923 and forwarded to his brother John Llewellyn on June 18, 1923 but must have been returned again.
Base Records wrote to the Assistant Director of Works, 6th District Base, Angelsea Barracks, Hobart, Tasmania on October 4, 1933 with reference to the affairs of the ex-late Sapper Llewellyn requesting if their records disclosed the present address of the deceased’s sister Mrs Robert Christie or Christy or any other surviving relatives.
On October 24, 1933 Angelsea Barracks, Hobart, Tasmania replied to Base Records advising that the local branch of the Repatriation Department’s records show Mrs Robert Christie as next-of-kin and her address was Eaglehawk, near Bendigo, Vic.
Base Records wrote to Mrs Christie on November 1, 1933 inquiring for the disposal of her late brother’s medals, if he had been married subsequent to his discharge or his parents were still surviving and the names and addresses if any. In the event of their demise could she supply the address of his eldest surviving brother? No further correspondence is recorded. His sister Mrs Mary Jane Christie had died in 1928.
His name is recorded on the Nation’s Roll of Honour as he died in the year following the Great War resulting from illness aggravated by war service.
LEST WE FORGET
© Donna Baldey 2010