Robert Alexander Fernie

Robert Alexander Fernie

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1895
Place of Birth	Sebastopol, Victoria
Death	3 May 1967, aged 71
Place of Death	Subiaco, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	21 years old
Description	5'9 ½" (1.77m) tall ; 160 lbs 72.575 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Orchardist
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	'Bonnie Vale', Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Alexander Firnie
Military Information
Reg Number	3227
Date of Enlistment	24 Jul 1916
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	10th Light Horse Regiment, 26th Reinforcement / ANZAC Mounted Division
Date of Embarkation	26 Apr 1917 ‒ 18 Mar 1917
Ship Embarked On	RMS Morea Fremantle to Bombay
Date of Embarkation	19 Mar 1917 ‒ 4 Apr 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A47 Mashobra Bombay to Port Suez
Date of Return	10 Jul 1919 ‒ 4 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Oxfordshire
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel) Roleystone Honour Board
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

In camp in Western Australia he undertook his early training with the 79th Depot Company and the 6th Depot Squadron before being allocated to the 26th reinforcement draft for the 10th Light Horse Regiment on 1 Feb 1917. He and his reinforcement group travelled to Suez via Bombay where they changed ship. Robert was an acting Corporal for the voyage.

On arrival in Egypt he reverted rank to Trooper and spent 19 days in the Light Horse's A Details Camp at Moascar, before joining the 10th Light Horse Regiment on 23 Apr 1917. This was just days after the unit was involved in the 2nd unsuccessful attempt to capture Gaza. He remained with them until 2 Feb 1918 when he had a stint at the Port Said rest camp. He rejoined his unit in the field and had another break at the rest camp in Jul 1918.

On 20 May 1919 he was appointed Lance Corporal at Zagazig before returning to Australia to be discharged by the 5th Military District on 11 Sep 1919.

Post War

Married Vera Gertrude Selina (nee Cook) in 1924. A daughter was born 1 Jul 1926 (Gwenneth or Patricia Y). Vera died in Doubleview on 19 Aug 1977 aged 82.

1915 Kelmscott Show - R. Fernie exhibits pigs with success.

Electoral Roll entries - 1921 Kelmscott, a soldier; 1925 civil servant at 115 Thomas street, Subiaco with Vera. In 1929 they are next door at 117 Thomas street; and at 247 Heytesbury road, Subiaco in 1931; In 1943 back to 117 Thomas where they remain until Robert's death. Vera remained there until at least 1968.

ANOTHER RAILWAY CROSSING ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE INJURED.

As the No 3 Perth-Bridgetown passenger train was approaching the level crossing at Gwindinup yesterday a motor lorry driven by Mr. R. A. Fernie, and belonging to the telephone construction gang working between Boyanup and Donnybrook, attempted to cross the line at the same time, with the result that the locomotive hit the lorry side on. As far as can be ascertained at present the only damage done was to one of the wheels and the axle, the latter being bent. Fortunately Mr. Fernie escaped without injury. He states that he did not hear the whistle, but the driver of the engine affirms that the whistle was blown.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial