ROBERTSON, Sydney Harold VETERAN

Name – ROBERTSON, Sydney Harold VETERAN
Born – cir 1897
Died – 27/08/1949
Location – No 90 Anglican Section
Mother – Clara Horton
Father – James Robertson

Notes – Sydney was born to Clara and James Robertson at Richmond, Victoria in 1897. He had a brother who was born when he was 4 years old called William James. Other siblings were Frederick Gilbert, Robert James and Myrtle Irene and half siblings of Sarah, John, Annie and Clara.

He enlisted in WWI in 1916 when he was 19 years old. His service number was 985 and he was in the 39th Div. His occupation at that time was given as an Undertakers assistant. His father had died by the time he enlisted. He had served in the cadets prior to this. His records show he was a small fellow. 5 foot 8 fair complextion and red hair and weighed 120 lb.

When he was in England and France he spent a lot of time in hospital and was wounded in 1918. He was a bit naughty, and went AWOL for a few weeks and had 30 days pay taken off him when he returned. His electoral roll records are 1928 and 1932 Atherton Carpenter, 1936 Townsville Carpenter, 1949 Bundaberg Labourer.

His brother William enlisted in WWII and died in 1941 in the Indian Ocean on board HMAS Sydney.

Syd married Lucy Ellen Ryder on the 24th October, 1932 and apparently they had one daughter, her name was Gloria Ellen and she was born on the 14th March 1938. She married a Raymond John Manski in 1958.

In 1945 Syd was trying to get replacement paper records from the Army because his had been stolen on a train earlier. He was living at the Albion Hotel in Dalby at that time.

Sydney had a wooden cross to mark his final resting place.

Newspaper Article –

War Service File  – ROBERTSON, Sydney Harold

Learn more about the Tara Cemetery here.