Nickname "Bob". Went to WA with the idea of becoming a Chemist. Disagreed with Sis and returned home to work in tannery. Learned to cut and plait whips and thongs for bootlaces. Enlisted in the army in WW1 (18/5/1916, RTA 1/7/19) Met John Cunningham (Jack) Lilburne during training at Bridgewater, Victoria. After the war wanted to be a farmer but this did not work out: he spent rest of working life in the railways.