Bob was born in1919 to an old pioneering family in the small conservative
farming community of Coopers Plains, now an outer suburb of Brisbane. His father was a
wonderful horseman who exhibited at local shows mainly in harness events, a trait which
Bob inherited.
On leaving school during the depression he worked in the rural industry mainly on small
crops farms around Sunnybank.
But Bobs heart was in the West and at an early age he left his close knit family to work
on a cattle and sheep station ''Colaine'' 30 mile west of Winton on the Boulia Rd. Hard
work from sunup to sundown soon cured his homesickness. His boss was Rex Phillott a legend
amongst western cattlemen. One day in the late 30's while Bob and Rex Phillott were
outside the North Gregory hotel in Winton a small elderly man with gray hair and a goatee
beard walked past in the opposite direction Rex said good day, the stranger acknowledged
and walked on by, Bob asked the question, who was that? Rex said that's Sir Sidney Kidman.
Kidman was Australia's legendary cattle king he died shortly after. His story is told in
the book ''The Cattle King'' by ex 5th Light Light Horseman Ion Idress
Stockwhips, gooseneck spurs, concertina leggings and moleskin britches were the attire of
his trade and Bob learnt the trade well with intentions of eventually buying his own
property, after several years war clouds were gathering and along with several other local
men he joined the Militia qualifying as a farrier .
He joined the 11th Light horse Regiment in 1938 and attended the Beaudesert camp in
1940.He heard that the Army was looking for Farriers to transfer to the Re Mount troop
stationed at selheim outside Townsville. He then transferred to the 2nd Light Horse and
went on maneuvers ending up at Rolleston north of Townsville in 1941. Bob by this stage
realized that there was no future in the Light Horse and whilst in Brisbane that year he
joined the 15th Infantry Battalion 2nd AIF. Ironically after joining the 15th battalion he
found himself posted to Blue Water about 10 Miles West of Townsville as a Farrier. The
Battalion was still using Animal Transport.
In 1942 all the horses were removed from the Battalion and all members were issued with
new Karkie Uniforms and large quantities of green dye. The uniforms were dyed green in
preparation for jungle operations. The Battalion boarded the Troopship "
Duntroon" at Townsville in January for the journey north to New Guinea. Bob still
remember the wharfies chanting as they marched on to the wharf "5 bob a day
murderers". To this day he can never understand the reason why.
The Battalion disembarked at Milne bay and units were ferried to Buna where there was
heavy fighting. Bob was part of a group that landed at Cape Endenpara at 2am in the
morning meeting with heavy resistance and suffering heavy casualties. He remembers the
Tokyo Rose radio Broadcasts on a daily basis " give up Aussie, you are surrounded,
lay down your arms"...
While home on leave in 1944 he married Evelyn Tuckett a local girl, also of pioneering
stock who served throughout the War in the Volunteer Defence Corps .
Bob returned to Bouganville with the 15th Battalion and took part in some of the last
battles of the war. He remembers the last operation, which involved crossing the nebo
fjord on the 15th August 1945. It was a large operation however unseasonal bad weather
caused flooding and the crossing had to be postponed until the 17th August 1945. WW2 ended
on the 15th August 1945 and fate had stepped in and saved many lives.
Upon discharge Bob headed back to the western country he loved. However recurring bouts of
Malaria forced him to return home where the problem could be treated.
Horses were never far away. Besides working for Robert Jackson and Sons,
a well known firm of carriers in Brisbane he also showed horses in harness turnouts . Very
rarely, if ever, not being amongst the prizewinners, something he is still doing in the
LHA.
When Jackson's disposed of their horses Bob was offered a job driving one of these new
fangaled inventions called a ''truck''. no way! Bob and Evelyn sold up took their family
of three children and bought a dairy farm ''Verwood'' at Coomera near the Gold Coast.
Once again Malaria stalked him. They sold ''Verwood'' and moved to a small farm near
Sunnybank.
Still breeding good horses and also fine Jersey Cows, Bob's legendary skills of driving
teams was highly sought. Several times in the 50's he was asked to drive a team of five
horses in one of Cobb and Co.'s original coaches .In 1954 he drove before a capacity crowd
at the Brisbane Exhibition ground in front of Queen Elizabeth the II.
The army was never to far away either. The Department of Defence now employed him at
''Damour Barracks'', a job he was to hold for 27 years. In the meantime he joined the CMF
into the Royal Australian Engineers serving with them until retirement.
Bob was now breeding Stockhorses, competing and very rarely out of the money, he had also
been asked by a consortium to train and drive a team of 6 Clydesdales hooked to a heavy
wagon once again travelling to country shows, as well as some movie work. In 1987 he
joined the Light horse Association. this was right up his ally, horses and the Army, it
could not be better. His partner of 54 years Everlyn supports his every move. Together
they have travelled far and wide to support the Light Horse Association . In 1990 Bob was
awarded Life Membership of the Stockman's Hall of Fame at a gathering of old drovers,
Stockman, and at the headquarters in Longreach. He was also awarded Life Membership of the
Light Horse Association along with Bob Smith and Jack Scott in 1996.
Material things have never meant much to Bob, like his father before him, his family, his
love of Queen and Country, his code of conduct are all he needs for satisfaction in life.
I fancy we will see him riding for some time yet.
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