4165
BURLEY, Robert Stanford
| Service Number: | 1428 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 December 1914, Oaklands, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Milang, South Australia, 28 April 1877 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Adelaide Christian Brothers College |
| Occupation: | Bushman |
| Died: | Natural causes (bronchitis), Adelaide, South Australia, 26 April 1943, aged 65 years |
| Cemetery: |
AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia Light Oval. Row No. 4S; C/E/W: C; Site No.12. Section: LO, Road: 4S, Site No: 12 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Christian Brothers' College WW1 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1428, Oaklands, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1428, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1 | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1428, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 4 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 1428, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Battle of Romani | |
| 19 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 1428, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, Battles of Gaza | |
| 26 Apr 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Trooper, 1428, 3rd Light Horse Regiment |
Robert James Stanford Burley
Robert was a very experienced bushman before WWI. Including driving herds of sheep or mobs of cattle, with assistance of expert trained dogs, over long distances from upper Flinders Ranges Stations, to Broken Hill, or Port Augusta, even to Tarcoola Station, and we also understand, to Perth. There was no Transcontinental Railway until about 1917. The key, he knew, was just where reliable and healthy drinking water for stock could be found. Of course a compass, and the overhead telephone wire to Perth was a guide.
No motels, one camped near the stock.
Submitted 13 April 2015 by Henry Burley
Biography
Born Robert 'James' Burley 8 April 1877 in Milang South Australia
(SA Birth record 1842 - 1906 Book: 182 Page: 487 District: Str.)
Father William Burley (b. 7/4/1841 SA - d. 21/12/1891 SA); and
m. 14/11/1867 at Macclesfield, SA
Mother Catherine Ryan (b. 17/6/1846 Adelaide SA - d. 17/1/1883 SA)
10 Children (Siblings):
Sister Margaret Agatha Burley
(b. 16/9/1868 Meadows SA - d. 27/4/1878 Langhorne Creek, SA)
Sister Alice Burley
(b. 2/11/1869 Meadows SA - d. 1878 SA)
Sister Catherine Burley
(b. 1871 - d. ___)
Brother John Lewis Burley
(b. 17/3/1873 Milang SA - d. 1940 Nullagine WA)
Brother William Deane Burley
(b. 17/3/1873 Milang SA - d. 1934 SA)
Brother Henry Arthur Burley
(b. 19/2/1875 Milang SA - d. 17/8/1904 Redhill, SA)
himself Robert James Burley
Brother Frederick Burley
(b. 15/7/1880 Adelaide SA - d. 14/12/1880 Adelaide SA)
Sister Catherine Ella Burley
(b. 4/12/1882 Adelaide SA - 13/2/1898 Adelaide SA)
Brother Walter Burley
(b. & d. 25/1/1882 Adelaide SA)
2/10/1915 Robert married Florence Ann Ryan at Norwood, SA, prior to embarking overseas.
daughter of Michael R Ryan and Mother Eliza Ryan (nee Kelly).
Wife: Florence Ann Burley (nee Ryan. b. 6/5/1875 Clare SA - d. 1962)
lived at 104 Osmond Terrace, Norwood, South Australia.
Described on enlisting as 36 years 7 months; married; 5' 9" tall; 150 lbs;
dark complexion; brown hair; Roman Catholic
10/12/1914 Enlisted at Oaklands, South Australia
11/12/1914 Commanding Officer appointed Robert to Base Light Horse Regiment, Mitcham Camp
27/10/1915 Embarked from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide on board HMAT A24 Benalla
as a Private with the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, 11th reinforcements
29/12/1915 absorbed in Regiment Western Front Froce
Back in Egypt, the 3rd Light Horse joined the ANZAC Mounted Division.
Between January and May 1916, the regiment was deployed to protect the Nile valley from bands
of pro-Turkish Senussi Arabs.
On 18 May, as part of its parent brigade, it joined the forces defending the Suez Canal. The 1st Light Horse Brigade played a significant role in turning back the Turkish advance on the canal at the battle of Romani on 4 August. In ensuing days the regiments of the brigade participated in the immediate follow-up of the defeated Turks, but were soon withdrawn to rest.
The 3rd Light Horse rejoined the Allied advance across the Sinai in November 1916 and was subsequently involved in the fighting to secure the Turkish outposts on the Palestine frontier - Maghdaba on 23 December 1916 and Rafa on 9 January 1917. A stint of protective duty along the line of communications through the Sinai followed.
The 3rd's next major engagement was the abortive second battle of Gaza on 19 April 1917. (Gaza finally fell on 7 November, after a wide outflanking move via Beersheba, in which the 1st Light Horse Brigade played a part.)
4/6/1917 detatched to rest camp, Tel-El-Marakeb
16/6/1917 rejoined unit
9/9/1917 debility, admitted to 14th Australian General Hospital (AGH)
14/9/1917 sick to hospital
18/9/1917 admitted to 24th Stationary Hospital, El Arish, Egypt
transferred to Base Camp
19/9/1917 transferred to Cairo
27/9/1917 Attended 30th Hotchkiss Gun Course
Imperial School of Instruction - Zeitoun
(Qualified 1st Class Hotchkiss Gun)
17/11/1917 Bronchitis - at Montazah
13/12/1917 transferred to 14th AGH
13/2/1918 embarked for Australia on board HT Ulysses, ex Suez, Egypt
26/4/1918 discharged from service with AIF
Total service: 3 years 137 days (overseas service 2 years 143 days)
Medals:
1914/15 Star (1409); British War medal (6683); Victory medal (6620)
15/7/1946 Returned Service Badge 69250 (RSL Adelaide).
Last place of residence 19 Anneslay Avenue, North Norwood, SA.
26/4/1943 Robert passed away of bronchial issues
Bronchial issues were a family weakness, according to great nephew Henry Burley,
which influenced the family migration to SA in 1838.
The SA Pioneer Robert b1805 Oxted, Surrey, was a second son.
buried in: West Terrace Cemetery
AIF Section, Light Oval
Row No. 4S; C/E/W: C; Site No.12.
Thank you to Robert's great nephew - Henry Burley - for his family contribution.
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 21/3/2015. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.