Robert Houston

Male 1894 - 1983  (88 years)


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  • Name Robert Houston 
    Nickname Bob 
    Birth 28 Jun 1894  Glasgow, Scottland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    War Service 25 Feb 1915  World War I Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Robert enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 25 Feb 1915 and served in 17th Battalion at Gallipolli and later transferred to 2nd D.A.C. in France where he served until the end of the war and was discharged on 18 Oct 1919.

    Military Honours 1919  World War I Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Robert Houston was awarded the following military decoration for his service in the A.I.F. during World War I:
      1914/15 Star
      British War Medal
      Victory Medal
      Return from Active Service Badge
      Anzac Commemorative Medallion and Badge


    British War Medal
    British War Medal
    British War Medal, Left to Right Obv and Rev Sides
    Instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of World War I and record the service given. The qualification period was later extended to cover post-war mine clearance and service in Russia during 1919 and 1920.
    The British War Medal was awarded for service in a theatre of war between 5…

    1914-15 Star
    1914-15 Star
    The 1914?15 Star was authorised in 1918 and was awarded for service in specified theatres of war between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. A recipient of the 1914 Star could not also be awarded the 1914?15 Star.
    Eligibility

    The 1914-15 Star may be awarded to those who saw service in a prescribed Theatre of War between 5 August 1914 and 31…
    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
    Victory Medal
    Victory Medal
    Left to Right: obv Face and Rev Face
    The Victory Medal was authorised in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allied Forces over the Central Powers. Each of the Allied nations issued a ?Victory Medal' to their own nationals with all of these having the figure of Victory on the obverse as a common feature. Australians were awarded the medal…

    At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
    The Anzac Commemorative Medallion
    The Anzac Commemorative Medallion
    The Anzac Commemorative Medallion was instituted 1967. It was awarded to surviving members of the Australian forces who served on the Gallipoli Peninsula, or in direct support of the operations from close off shore, at any time during the period from the first Anzac Day in April 1915 to the date of final evacuation in January 1916.

    Next of kin,…
    Death 28 Feb 1983  Endeavour Nursing Home, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I6268  Tucker Family Tree | Bottcher family tree
    Last Modified 8 Oct 2008 

    Family Wilhelmina Augusta Bottcher,   b. 26 Nov 1894, 1 Park Street, Camperdown, Erskinville, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 15 Dec 1964, Sans Souci, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years) 
    Marriage 25 Aug 1923  Methodist Church, Stanmore, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
    +1. Jean Rita Houston,   b. 05 Mar 1924, Denison Street, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 Jan 2010, Ulladulla, New South Wales, Australia Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 85 years)
    Family ID F1942  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 22 Jul 2008 

  • Notes 
    • Robert Houston was born on 28 June 1894. He was 5ft 4 inches tall, darkish complexion with brown eyes, dark hair and single when he enlisted in the AIF in Liverpool on the 26 February 1915.
      On the 25th August 1923 Robert, then 29 years old Married Minnie Bottcher aged 28yrs. They were married in the Methodist Church at Stanmore, New South Wales, Australia. In 1924 their daughter Jean was born and Minnie's children from her first marriage were, James 8 years and Beryl 7 years old. They were live at 97 Denison Street Newtown New South Wales Australia.
      The family eventually moved to 429 Rocky Point Rd Sans Souci and Robert was employed at a Founders enameling baths.
      During the great depression, Robert, then in his late thirties found it hard to get work. But he did get employment on the Harbour Bridge during it construction between 1924 - 1932, along with his brother-in-laws, James Ramsay and Nils Isaksen.
      Once the great depression ended, Robert returned to his trade and worked at Mack el Raiths Baths, the bath founders, until he retired at age 65 in 1959.
      On 30th Apr 1943 Robert finally received his 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In march 1967 he received the ANZAC Commemorative Medallion.
      Robert and his brother-in-law Rudy Burcher loved to watch the 18 foot yachts race on Botany Bay from a charted ferry. He was an esteemed veteran member of the St George Motor Boat Club.
      On the 28 February 1983, Robert Houston passed away in the Endeavor Nursing Home, at age 89, just 31 days before his Brother-In-Law and good friend, Nils Isakson.


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