ROEBUCK, Francis Henry (1876-1915)Francis Henry Roebuck was born 15 February 1876, the eldest son of Henry Gilson Roebuck and Catherine Jane nee Clarke of Malop Street, Geelong. He was educated as a day student at Geelong College, entering in 1891. He was usually known as 'Frank'. After matriculating he entered Law, but subsequently went in to the London Bank, and was in the Sydney office of that bank when he enlisted (1246) on 11 February 1915.
He was in camp at Liverpool for a short time before he embarked on
HMAT A40 Ceramic on 25 June 1915, and reached Gallipoli in mid-August. He was in action with 18 Battalion at Chocolate Hill (Hill 60) on 22 August, and was reported missing that day. Pte Robert Leslie Hobden (of Boggabri, NSW) of 18 Battalion reported to the Red Cross Information Bureau the circumstances of his demise:
‘Witness was beside him when attacking the Turkish trenches before Chocolate Hill on August 22 when he was wounded in the arm. They told him to lie down, they were then just alongside the trenches into which they subsequently got and remained there about half an hour. They then had to retire and never saw him again. Witness thinks Roebuck was taken prisoner as the Turks went into those trenches as they retired about 200 yards. He was rather tall with sallow complexion, clean shaven and was very popular. He was only man of that name in the Company. Witness did not know he was posted as missing till a few days ago when he read it in the paper.’ .JPG)
F H Roebuck (War Service).
Les Carlyon in
Gallipoli wrote of the savagery of that day:
'... one of the 2500 casualties at Hill 60. Monash’s brigade had been reduced to 968 men, the size of a battalion. The four regiments of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles were down to a total of 365 men. The 18th Battalion had been reduced from 1004 to 386 men in eleven days. Monash wrote in his diary: ‘The whole was a rotten, badly organised show ...’ Phil Taylor and Pam Cupper in their book,
Gallipoli: A Battlefield Guide described the 18th Battalion’s arrival and blooding on Gallipoli:
'Early on 22 August, the 18th Battalion, AIF, just arrived at Gallipoli, was sent into battle for the first time, to reinforce the hard-pressed force holding the base of Hill 60. The battalion attacked from the hedge-like row of trees west of the hill. After a furious battle in which nearly 200 men of the 18th Battalion were killed, they gained a short section of trench and linked up with the rest of the Allied force to form a foothold on the hill.' Private Roebuck’s brother, Sergeant A K Roebuck (who was wounded on Gallipoli, and eventually killed at Pozieres), instituted enquiries about his whereabouts, and was told he had been reported killed. A wristlet watch, presented to Frank by the London Bank when he left their employ, was found by Sgt William Halsey, of C Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Hants, at Gallipoli and forwarded to his parents, the inscription being a means of identification. Halsey wrote first to the London Bank:
‘I am in possession of a small relic, connected with your Bank, a silver watch, with this on the back “F.H. Roebuck from the staff of the London Bank, Sydney, March 1915”. My regiment relieved the Australians on Hill 60, and one day while digging trenches I crawled out with the intention of burying some bodies and close to one I found this watch. All clothing had been burnt by bush fire, so that friend and foe were all alike. And quickly I had to get back for the Turks had seen me, and sorry to say could not accomplish my work. But let me say, this is my wish, to get this little present back where this brave man came from, and to let you know he fell within a few feet of a Turkish trench, which had been filled in by his comrades with the enemy’s dead. And so he has given his all to keep England’s Empire from being ruled by the Oppressor of the Small, the Murderer of the Mother and Child, and surely we can find comfort in our grief and know full well God has gathered him in His fold, free from strife, where I hope we shall meet on that beautiful Resurrection Day. I have been on the Peninsular since 10th August and carried this little treasure since the beginning of September, and now I shall be able to send it home. I have seen your Country’s paper, and you know what the brave men from Australia and New Zealand have done out here, and the price paid, but let me please say, as an old English soldier, my heart is brim full of admiration, the way they set about their work, unconcerned it seemed of the danger and death that was always with us, and if I can send this and get it home safe, how pleased I shall be.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, Yours truly, William Halsey.’ Halsey then wrote to Roebuck’s parents:
‘I have been waiting for your letter before I replied, but it went to the 1st Australian Brigade instead of ours, although directed alright. It got here on the 10th of this month, your daughter’s and Mr Roebuck’s also came by the same post weeks ago. Now I will tell you all I can of your dear son. It was daylight, about 10 o’clock am, and creeping out as I told you before, with the idea of burying the bodies, I found all was burnt except a part of a felt hat with the badge I enclose, and the watch close under the left wrist with part of a strap burnt, but partly around where a watch is carried, and not blown off as you hoped. The watch had stopped at 1.40, and about a foot in front of the hat I found this pair of spectacles I also send. Why I did not mention them before was, I gave them away to a comrade, but when you wrote I begged them back again, and got them this week. They were quite alright when I gave them away, but the man’s kit got knocked about, and they got broken, but I have put them for you to see, and make it as plain as possible, although I am grieved in doing so. I pray God will give you the strength to bear up in your grief. All of you at home have my deepest sympathy, I mourn for my fallen comrade, and pray that God has taken him to that happy home where all this strife ends, where joy and peace forever reign. Leaving all to God. His will be done. I have written to your other soldier son, but have received no reply. If I had got the letters before we left Cairo, I would soon have found him, being close there, but now we are far away. Perhaps he is home with you, at least I hope so to lighten your load. I should like to have had a chat with him. I don’t expect I shall be able to see your dear country, although I have a brother-in-law in Sydney. My home is in the Isle of Wight (Mr W Halsey, No. 3, The Avenue, Gurnard, Isle of Wight). That is where I will go when this war is finished, if it is God’s Will to spare me, and I must pray to God to give me strength to do my utmost to defeat our enemies that are trying to overwhelm us, otherwise I am willing to lay down my life for my country’s sake, that she may live and still be able to make a better world, then may peace reign for evermore. Please thank your daughter for her nice letter, also Mr Roebuck, and if ever you write I will try and answer. Hoping you will all bear up, for he that giveth his life for his country, hath raised a banner to wave, that others may live under in peace. Goodbye and God bless you. I remain, Yours truly, William Halsey.
P.S. I am sending the watch, spectacles, and hat badge this day 14 June 1916.’ 'Frank' Roebuck has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli.
His brothers, Stanley Richard Roebuck (1879-1965); Leslie Norman Roebuck (1885-1973) and Albert Kenneth Roebuck (1893-1916) were also educated at Geelong College.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. pp98-99 (citing Les Carlyon, Gallipoli; Australian War Memorial; Phil Taylor and Pam Cupper, Gallipoli: A Battlefield Guide; Photo Pegasus May, 1917.)