Military History

Embarked Sydney per ‘Canberra’ for Southampton 16.11.1917.
Roll Rank as 2nd Lieut.
Roll Unit 32nd Reinf, Australian Field Artillery (AFA).
Roebuck disembarked  in Egypt before re-embarking for France. He disembarked at Southampton 30.1.1918 and marched into the Reserve Bde. Australian Artillery (RBAA) at Heytesbury 30.1.1918. After 3 months of intensive training, he proceeded overseas to France via Southampton 19.4.1918. He marched out to the 1st Div. Artillery and was transferred to 5th Division Artillery 26.4.1918 and then allocated to 13th FAB 27.4.1918 and was promoted to Lieut. Roebuck fought with the 5th Division against the German Spring Offensive from March 1918. The 5th Division fought at Morlancourt in July 1917. In 1918 they fought as part of the Allied advance on the Hindenburg Line- the 100 Days War, which began with the Battle of Amiens on 8.8.1918. Roebuck was wounded in action, with severe shell wounds to his throat and left thigh 9.8.1918 at Amiens. He was taken to the No. 61 Casualty Clearing Station at Dozingham, where he died of wounds 10.8.1918. He was buried by Rev. G.W.B. Boycott at the British Cemetery, Vignacourt (Map reference 57E.-W.22.b.4.7.) The later plot details were given as Vignacourt British Cemetery, Vignacourt, Picardie, France. Plot 5, Row E (8 miles NNW of Amiens). (reported West Australian Newspaper 29.9.1918)
Final Rank Lieut. 13th Field Artillery
Medical Condition Deceased, died of wounds.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes When the 37th and 38th Artillery Batteries moved to Guildford in 1913 under the command of Major Mills,  J.V. Mills was Lieutenant and  Scott, Sergeant Major. Together they were responsible for the Artillery at Guildford and later at Blackboy Hill. There is little information on  Roebuck's death, recorded in Obituaries, notices or otherwise in the media. It is possible that family or the military wished this prominent and well loved officer's death be handled with discretion.
Casualty Clearing Stations were placed in advance of a battle, in groups of three and were given popular names by the troops-61st CCS( Dozinghem), 4th CCS (Bandaghem) and 47th CCS( Mendinghem) were near Ypres. The names referred to dosing, bandaging and mending the soldiers.(A touch of humour in difficult times). Each CCS had a different purpose or triage priority. These CCSs used a previous 1916 cemetery that continued in use until 1918. Vignacourt Cemetery now holds the graves of 584 soldiers from WW1
Photos Lieut J.V. Roebuck. Portrait. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C03353
             Artillery Training at Guildford. Photographer Mitchell, E. L. photograph source SLWA 031217PD
             Officers at Guildford Artillery Camp-opening of the YMCA Hall. Lieut. Roebuck front row 2nd from left. Photograph source Western Mail 9.6.1916 p23
             HMAT 'Canberra'  taking coal onboard in Columbo 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM C0333
             9.2 inch Howitzter used by the Artillery to support the Australian Troops at Morlancourt, June 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E0483
             Vignacourt Cemetery 1919. Photographer Thuillier, L., photograph source AWM P10550.082

Information Source
AWM C03353. Lieut J.V. Roebuck. Portrait. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM C0333. HMAT 'Canberra'  taking coal onboard in Columbo 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E0483. 9.2 inch Howitzter used by the Artillery to support the Australian Troops at Morlancourt, June 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collction of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P10550.082. Vignacourt Cemetery 1919. Photographer Thuillier, L., photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkment List James Vernon Roebuck
AWM Roll of Honour
NAA: B2455 Roebuck James Vernon
LISWA, SLWA 031217PD. Artillery Training at Guildford. Photographer Mitchell, E. L. photograph sourced from the  Pictorial Collection of the State library of Western Australia , LISWA
West Australian Newspaper
Western Mail
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories

Artillery Camp Guildford, WA.
Haberfield, Sydney, NSW.

Associated Images