Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert Andrew Ramsay was born on 13th February 1869 in Melbourne VIC, the eldest of 4 children born to his parents Robert and Isabella Ramsay.  His siblings were Urquhart, Constance and Edith.  Robert was educated at Scotch College and Ormond College and served as a Captain with the College Senior Cadets.  He went on to study law at Melbourne University, qualifying as a Barrister and a Solicitor in 1897.  His father was a prominent lawyer and a politician in Victoria and died in May 1882 aged 40.  Sadly, Constance died in December that same year aged 3 and Edith died 10 years later in 1892 when she was 18.  In 1899 Robert and his brother Urquhart bought a 688 acre property of grazing land at Birregurra VIC named “Mooleric.”  Robert’s mother lived at Mooleric with Robert until her death in 1910.  The property remained in the family until the year 2000 when it was sold.  In 1914 Robert served as President of the Colac Golf Club and was a councillor for the Colac Council. 

Robert was a member of the Australian Volunteer Automobile Corps which pre-dated WW1.  Members of this organisation were private individuals who offered their vehicle and themselves for use by the services, primarily transporting Staff Officers so when the war broke out he did just that.  He had a desire to serve in the Light Horse and he offered horses for use however there was a shortage of drivers for the Staff Officers so upon enlisting on the 9th September 1914 at Melbourne VIC aged 45, he was granted a commission in the Australian Imperial Force with the rank of Lieutenant serving with the Automobile Corps with the 1st Division Headquarters Staff. 

Robert embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Orvieto on 21st October 1914 and sailed from Albany WA with the First Convoy on 1st November 1914.  The Orvieto led the fleet out of King George Sound.  He disembarked at Alexandria Egypt on 3rd December 1914 and proceeded to Mena Camp.  He remained there until 5th April 1915 when he and the HQ Divisional Staff embarked from Alexandria on HMT Minnewaska bound for Lemnos Island.  In preparation for the landings at Gallipoli the HQ Staff transhipped to the HMS Prince of Wales at 2pm on 24th April 1915 before leaving Lemnos Island.  At 1am on 25th April 1915 HMS Prince of Wales anchored offshore of Gallipoli.  The following is an extract from the unit diary: “The Prince of Wales anchored at 5miles from shore.  Owing to the clear moonlight the shore outline was visible.  With glasses the ships all around could be clearly seen.  The men got into the boats very  silently.  There were 4 tows.  The tows fell in the rear of the battleships.  At 3.57am the ships got into position and advanced towards the shore.  At a distance of a about a mile the ships halted and the steam boats took the tows in.  Rifle fire was heard from the shore at 4.32am.” 

Robert transhipped to HMS Ribble and landed at Gallipoli at 10am with the HQ Divisional Staff.  The 1st Division Headquarters was established at the top of White’s Valley.  Robert was appointed assistant to Lieutenant Colonel Cecil Henry Foott whom he shared a dugout with.  On 21st August 1915 Robert was promoted to Staff Captain and then to Captain on the same day with duties as the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (DAAG).  He was responsible for personnel administration.  A month later he was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station (1ACCS) with influenza.  He was transferred to the hospital ship Somali and evacuated to Malta where he was admitted to the Blue Sisters’ Hospital at Sliema.  He was evacuated from there to England on HMAT Karoola on 28th September 1915 where he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth. 

While in England Robert married Mabel Alice Greenwood at Marylebone Parish Church in London UK on 18th December 1915.  She was a nurse from New Zealand who served in American and British Hospitals in France.  She was awarded the French Honour Medal for her courageous service in France during WW1.   

Robert re-joined his unit at Tel-el-Kebir Camp, Egypt, on 26th January 1916.  He remained there until 22nd March 1916 when he embarked from Alexandria on HMT Bohemian and disembarked at Marseilles, France, 6 days later.  In early August 1916 he was detached for special duty as Commanding Officer of the 1st Anzac Reinforcements Camp at Val-de-Maison.  In addition to these duties he was appointed as Area Commandant “V” Area in early November 1916. 

On 1st January 1917 Robert was admitted to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station (38th CCS) at Albert with trench fever and evacuated on No. 16 hospital train.  He was admitted to No. 1 General Hospital at Etretat then a week later was transferred to No. 8 Convalescent Depot at Menton.  He was transferred from the Automobile Corps to the General List and in early February 1917 he was discharged for duty as Commanding Officer of the 1st Anzac Reinforcements Camp with temporary rank of Major whilst doing these duties.  In late July the camp moved to Hazebrouck and then to Fletre in September.  In late November 1917 he was took command of the Australian Corps Depot. 

Robert was promoted to Major on 10th July 1918.  He proceeded to England on duty in mid-October 1918 and took leave for 4 weeks.  That leave was extended to late November.  In late December 1918 he was granted special leave to return to Australia via America having enlisted in 1914.  He and wife Mabel embarked from Liverpool on 10th January 1919 on SS Melita.  He relinquished command of the Australian Corps Depot on 23rd January 1919.  Robert and Mabel embarked from San Francisco on 4th February 1919 on SS Ventura and disembarked at Sydney on 25th February 1919 then proceeded to Melbourne.  Robert’s appointment was terminated on 28th April 1919. 

After the war Robert and Mabel welcomed 4 children…twins Anne and Robert, followed by Andrew and Mary. 

Robert transferred to the retired list in mid-February 1929.  He was a member of the Graziers’ Association and president 3 times.  He was a member of the Colac Shire Council for 30 years and president of the Melbourne Club and Barwon Heads Golf Club. 

Robert died on 9th June 1948 aged 79.  He was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery with his parents and his brother Urquhart who died a month after Robert on 3rd July 1948 aged 76. 

Robert is commemorated on the Birregurra and District Residents Roll of Honour, Birregurra War Memorial, McLennan Memorial Presbyterian Church Honour Roll and the Law Institute of Victoria Roll of Honour WW1.            

Robert Andrew Ramsay was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Anzac Commemorative Medallion.  

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 29th May 2023.