Robert Hampson

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 09/02/2017 - 12:29

First Name:

Robert

Last Name:

Hampson

Mother's Name:

Mary Ann Hampson nee Dickson

Father's Name:

Thomas Hampson

Date Enlisted:

Thursday, January 20, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Sapper

Rank at Discharge:

Sapper

Unit:

Tunnelling Company No 4, Headquarters

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, August 3, 1961

Place of Death:

Sydney

Details:

Robert Hampson (Service No 3619) was born in Leigh, Lancashire, England around 1882.

On 18th January 1902 he married Mary Ellen Holden and they had 5 children. Some time after 1911 the Robert moved to Australia.

At enlistment Robert was 33 years old, worked as a miner, and lived at Corrimal, N.S.W. On his enlistment papers, in answer to the question "Are you married?' Robert answered 'yes' but this was crossed out and changed to 'no'; Robert listed his brother, James, of Oldham, Lancashire, as his next of kin. It is unclear as to the status of the marriage, or where Robert's wife and children were at this time.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A69 Warialda with Tunnelling Company 4, Headquarters 1 on 22nd May 1916. After arriving in England on 18th July 1916 Robert went to France and joined 1st Tunnelling Company in the field on 30th September 1916.

On 6th January 1917 he was admitted to hospital sick but returned to duty on 1st February.

Robert saw service on the Western Front and was returned to Australia in April 1919. He was discharged medically unfit on 19th September 1919.

Among his National Archives of Aust. papers, there is a letter on file dated 9th February 1923 from the Matrmonial Causes Office, Supreme Court, Sydney, stating that Mrs Mary Ellen Hampson was asking for information on Robert's whereabouts as she wished to divorce him.

Robert died in Sydney in 1961 and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, HAMPSON R