Robert Macniven

Robert Macniven was born in Carluke Scotland about 1890. There is very little information available about him, but his service file gives some idea of the type of man he was.

At the time of his enlistment Robert was a single 24 year old miner living at Helensburgh, NSW, who had served in the Territorials before he came to Australia. He embarked on HMAT A14 Euripides on 20th October 1914 with A Company, 4th Battalion. He arrived in Egypt in December and after training went to Gallipoli with the first troops. Robert survived the first months of fighting but was killed in action sometime between 6th and 9th August at Lone Pine. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial.

Like all the troops he made a will while in Egypt and this gives an idea of the man he was. A man with a sense of humour but a responsible one. He leaves 20 pounds to his ex nuptial daughter and everything else to his mother. His daughter is named, as is her mother.
At the bottom of his will he left a small verse,
"If by chance I lose this book
and if by chance you find it,
remember Robert is my name
and Macniven comes behind it."

His medals were sent to his daughter in Scotland.