Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

Robert William YOUNG

Personal

Born: 1879

Birth registration: N.S.W. Registration No. 17118

Birthplace: Copelands, Manning River, New South Wales

Parents: John Cameron Young
Lucy Mary Ann Chancellor (1860-1933)

Died: 1935

Place of death: Campbellfield, Victoria; Registration No. 1066

Awards and Honours

  • 1914-1915 Star
  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

1st Battalion, Machine Gun Section

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 1009

Enlistment date: 31 August, 1914 Kensington, NSW

Age at enlistment: 36 years

Address at enlistment: Selwood Ave., Lower Ferntree Gully, Victoria

Religion: Presbyterian

Marital Status: Married

Next of kin: Mrs. E M Young, Sutherlands Av., Lower Ferntree Gully

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 1 inch
Weight: 12 stones 2 pounds
Complexion: Dark
Eyes: Dark Brown to Grey
Hair: Dark Brown
Distinctive marks: Nill

Embarkation ship: H.M.A.T. A19 Afric.

Rank: Private

Return Date: 22 July, 1917

Return Vessel: A 71 Nestor.

Arrival at Australia: 22 September, 1917.At: Melbourne

Discharge Date: 19 January, 1918

War Service Summary

31/08/1914 - Transferrd from H Company to Machine Gun Section
18/10/1914 - Embarked from Sydney aboard A19 Aftic
30/04/1915 - Wounded In Action, Gallipoli; Admitted to No.1 General Hospital; Gun Shot Wound to left hand; Transferred to No. 2 General Hospital
04/06/1915 - Discharged for duty at base, Zeitoun
07/07/1915 - Readmitted to convalesce, Gun Shot Wound to finger
15/11/1915 - Admitted to No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Convalescent Depot, Heliopolis; injured hand; under treatment
31/12/1915 - Discharged to Overseas Base; light duties
26/07/1916 - To 3rd. Australian General Hospital, Abassia; Neurathenia and debility
12/08/1916 - Heat exhaustion British Red Cross Hospital, Montazah
28/08/1916 - Discharged from hospital to Moascar Class A
14/09/1916 - Ex Alexandria
01/10/1916 - Marched In from overseas; Parkhouse, England
02/10/1916 - Marched in to Training Battalion, Perham Downs
13/10/1916 - Sick to Delhi Hospital, England; laryngitis
13/12/1916 - Proceeding to France per Arundel from Folkestone
26/12/1916 - To hospital; sick; Etaples
27/01/1917 - From hospital; Etaples
04/03/1917 - Embarked to England from Etaples for permanent base duties
15/04/1918 - Medical report states was invalided from France with Gastritis in December, 1916. Since when he has had attacks of vomiting and constipation. Says he has lost 2 stone 7 lbs. in last six months.
22/07/1917 - Embarked for Australia
24/09/1917 - Disembarked Melbourne
19/01/1918 - Discharged; medically unfit

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Names of wife:
1907 - Married Edith May Miles (1879-1961); Bacchus Marsh

Children:
Thomas Albert (1907-1911)
Julia A M (1909-1957)
Thomas (1909-1909)
Henry A R (1910-1915)
Douglas C M (1918)
Unnamed (1921-1921)

Place/s of residence:
Melton
1903, 1905, 1906, 1909, 1914 - 155 Dover St., Richmond (with mother, Lucy)
1909 - Edith listed as 51 Wellington St., Sth. Richmond
1915 - Edith Lelmans Av., Lower Ferntree Gully
1916 - Haddon (Ballarat) Edith
1918 - 55 Dover Street, Richmond, (with Edith)
1919, 1921, 1927 - Block, 30 Irvine Street Coburg (with Edith)
1928, 1931 - Block, 30 Irvine Street, Coburg
1934 - 55 Dover Street, Richmond

Occupations:
1903 - painter
1919 ex-soldier
1934 - pensioner

Other relevant information :
Re: Edith May Young (nee Miles)
The Miles family lived for many years from the late 1800s near to the Djerriwarrah Creek, Melton. In 1877 Thomas (1825 London - 1912 Melton) married Fanny Louisa Chancellor (1856 -1942 East Malvern).
Edith May was born at Richmond, the second daughter of nine children. She passed away in 1961 at Bacchus Marsh.

Edith's youngest siblings were born in Melton: Blanche Maude b. 1889 and Stephen Harris Miles (1892-1983 Bacchus Marsh). Stephen married Violet Victoria Hunter, daughter of William Thomas Hunter and Sabina Burton. The Burton family were early settlers at Toolern Vale.

Edith and Robert separated and court cases over maintenance ensued.

Additional Information

The Age
25 December 1915, p. 5

YOUNG — On the 2nd December, of broncho prenmonina Henry Archibald Robert (our little Bobbie), youngest son of Pte R. W. Young, A.I.F., and Edith M. Young, grandson of Mrs F Miles and the late Thomas Miles. Melton; and nephew of H., T., O., C., C., S.,D .,M. and S. Miles, aged 5½ years. Interred privately Boroondara Cemetery, on 4th. Ins.
A patient little sufferer peacefully sleeping.

The Argus
13th September 1933, p. 9
FIGHTING FOR PRINCIPLE
Refusal to Support Wife
When he appeared at the Richmond Court on Tuesday in connection with his failure to pay his wife's maintenance, which was in arrears, Robert William Young, Dover Street, Richmond, stated that he belonged to an organization of men who were fighting for a principle, and that he would sooner go to goal than support his wife Edith May Young, Koornang road, Carnegie.
Mr M. Goldberg (for Mrs Young) said that Young was a leading member of the Maintenance and Alimony Association, a body of men who were determined not to support their wives. Several summonses had been issued against Young in connection with the arrears of maintenance, but he had failed to take any action. More than a year ago an order was made against the defendant in request of large sum of arrears of maintenance, and he was to goal, while he it remained for several months Eventually he was released by the State Attorney General. Since the last order arrears had amounted to £48.
Young:- I am ready to go to goal.
An order was made the Young be imprisoned until the amount was paid.

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Newspaper accounts