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Bacchus Marsh
Avenue of Honour

Lance Corporal Robert (Tom) Thomas Grant

Service No.:
4196
Unit:
14th Battalion
Tree No.:
S114
Planted by:
Mrs Grant
Image of plaque on tree S114 for Robert Grant
See Notes (1) (2)
Image of Service Medal - British War Medal Image of Service Medal - Victory Medal

Robert - known as Tom(3) - was born in 1887 in Bacchus Marsh, VIC to William Grant and Betsy McDonald. Robert had a brother, Harry, a cousin, Robert Reid and a brother-in-law, James Connor, who are also remembered in the Avenue.


Headstone for Robert Grant
click to enlarge

Headstone for Robert Grant.
Courtesy of Carol & George Judkins.

Robert was a grazier, aged 28 and gave his address as Glenferrie, VIC when he enlisted in the AIF, 13th Reinforcements, 14th Battalion on the 10th of July 1915. He had previously been in the Bacchus Marsh Rifle Club for 10 years and the Melbourne Rifle Club for two months(3). He embarked aboard the HMAT A64 Demosthenes in December as an acting Corporal, disembarking in Egypt at the end of January 1916 where he joined the 14th Battalion in April and reverted to the rank of Private.

He disembarked at Marseilles, France in June 1916 and in July was wounded in action, but remained on duty. At the end of July till early April, the 14th Battalion were engaged in the Battle of Pozieres, so Robert was probably involved.In August Robert was again wounded in action and admitted to the 2nd Field Ambulance - he was diagnosed with shell shock. In late August he was admitted to hospital in France for six weeks, suffering from eczema. Robert was promoted to Lance Corporal in December.

During the First Battle of Bullecourt in early April 1917 Robert was captured and sent to Limburg Prisoner of War Camp, Germany. In a letter home he says:-

... in the very best of health ... working at a saw mill, just 4 of us.... much better than being in the Lager all the time.

Source: Red Cross Wounded and Missing

He was repatriated back to England in December 1918. He returned to Australia in April 1919 and was discharged from the AIF in May.

In 1942 Robert enlisted in the Australian Army as a Private - V361387 - in the 20th Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps.

Robert died at Bacchus Marsh in 1964 , aged 77 and is buried in Maddingley Cemetery, Bacchus Marsh.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour, the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour, the Roll of Honour for the Bacchus Marsh ANA and the Roll of Honour of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Bacchus Marsh. He is also remembered at the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Ballarat.

Notes

  1. Service Number should be 4196
  2. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in December 1916
  3. The Bacchus Marsh Express 17 Jul 1915

Location of Tree Number S114

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Last updated by lee, Sat, 28 Aug 2021 15:31:00