Military History

Embarked Fremantle per ‘Berrima’ for UK 23.12.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 8th Reinforcement 51st Battalion Infantry.
Campbell disembarked at Devonport, UK with the 51st Battalion 8th Reinforcement. He marched into Codford to the 15th Training Battalion 21.2.1917. Campbell was transferred to the 13th Training Battalion at Hurdcott 16.3.1917. He proceeded overseas to France with his unit 25.6.1917. He entered battle at Ypres, with Messines his first major engagement. Campbell fought in the trenches of the Somme and was wounded in action in the field with a gunshot would to his neck and injury to his left eye 11.10.1917. He was taken by the 4th New Zealand Field Ambulance to the 12th Casualty clearing station and then to hospital in Le Havre. He rejoined his unit 26.11.1917. Campbell was wounded in action (2nd time) gas poisoning 21.3.1918 near Amiens. He was invalided to England per Hospital Ship ‘Port Elizabeth’ and admitted to the Princess Christian Military Hospital 24.3.1918 (Reported West Australian Newspaper 22.4.1918). He was transferred to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. On recovery, he was assessed as fit for active service and proceeded overseas to France 5.6.1918. Marched in to Australian Infantry Brigade Depot 7.6.1918 Campbell contracted influenza 29.12.1918. He returned to duty with his unit 8.1.1919. Campbell marched out to le Havre and returned to England for demobilization 22.4.1919.
Embarked for Australia per ‘Konigin Louise’ 21.6.1919.
Returned/Disembarked 3.8.1919.
Discharged 14.9.1919.
Final Rank Private.
Medical Condition NR (gas poisoning x2)
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos  HMAS 'Berrima' under construction 1913. Unsourced image Wikipedia               
              Messines, showing winter trenches 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E0128
              Road to Amiens 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph AWM E01952
              Campbell R.A. Image source Kalgoorlie Miner 22.4.1918 p1

Information Source
AWM E0128. Messines, showing winter trenches 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01952.  Road to Amiens 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph  sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Robert Arthur Campbell
Kalgoorlie Miner
NAA: B2455, Campbell R A 3131
West Australian Newspaper
Wikipedia. HMAS 'Berrima' under construction 1913. Unsourced image Wikipedia website, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Berrima
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories

Kidman Ave, South Guildford, WA. (2nd House off Great Eastern Highway)

Associated Images