Photographs of Robert Henry Roper on camelback, and in uniform || The interview was conducted by Age Exchange in partnership with The University of Essex and The First World War Centre –University of Hertfordshire –as part of the Children of The Great War project. Professor Mike Roper of University of Essex came to share the story of his Grandad, Robert Henry Roper who had enlisted in the Australian Army at the beginning of the First World War. Robert Roper was born in 1886, 1 of 11 children. He had a very tough childhood before joining up. Robert Roper served with the Camel Regiment, and fought at Gallipoli, The Battle of Lone Pine, and later in the Middle East at The 2nd Battle of Gaza. Mike Roper interviewed his Grandad in the late 1970s. Mike shared some of the traumatic memories his Grandad had shared with him, who clearly remained deeply affected, if not haunted by his Wartime experience throughout the rest of his life. Mike’s memory of Grandad and some of the memories passed down to him can be found in the transcribed interview attached to this entry. Mike recalled personal memories of his much loved Grandad, including their shared love of the outback, and the Bush. He recalled the very close relationship he had had with his Grandad and Grandmother. He also shared memories of his Grandad’s strong left wing political views – having also interviewed him about his experience of the Great Depression in Australia. Mike along with all the interviewees was asked whether he had a favourite object relating to his Grandad’s First World War experience. He produced a copy of the taped interview he had recorded as his favourite object, and recalled it as being the very first oral history interview he had ever recorded before becoming an academic and a professional historian. Robert Henry Roper (Grandad) passed away on Mike’s 21st birthday. A joint project between Age Exchange, the University of Essex and the Everyday Lives in War FWW Engagement Centre, University of Herts. For further information, please contact Everyday Lives in War, https://everydaylivesinwar.herts.ac.uk/ || || Robert Henry Roper in Uniform, the Camel Regiment, Australia || Robert Henry Roper || Photograph || || Robert Henry Roper mounted on his camel || Photograph || Robert Henry Roper || || Robert Henry Roper || *Full interview with Professor Mike Roper || 51.877726,0.9472069999999349 || PDF transcript:the interview was conducted by Age Exchange in partnership with The University of Essex and The First World War Centre –University of Hertfordshire –as part of the Children of The Great War project.

Sir | I must number amongst your underserved sic favours | your sending for my thoughts concerning the request of the citizens of London | in Common-Hall assembled | to their representatives in Parliament. ...

Article with annotations. || Private R. Ryder, 12th Middlesex Regiment, was awarded the V.C. for bravery on 26 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. His Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was held up by heavy rifle fire and all his officers had become casualties. This caused the usual confusion and for want of leadership the attack was flagging when Private Ryder, acting alone and with great bravery advanced at a quick pace towards the German held trench. Not only did he suppress the occupants but also, by the skillful handling of his Lewis Gun succeeded in clearing the trench - his success seems to have encouraged his companions making the subsequent advance possible and turned what could have been failure into an advance. The British officially adopted the Lewis Gun in .303 calibre for Land and Aircraft use in October 1915; it is the first true LSW (Light Support Weapon). See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Gun This account of his actions was written by James Price Lloyd of the Welsh Regiment, who served with Military Intelligence. After the war, the government to destroyed all the archives relating to this propaganda (section MI 7b (1)). They were regarded as being too sensitive to risk being made public. Remarkably these documents have survived in the personal records of Captain Lloyd. Many of these papers are officially stamped, and one can trace the development of many individual articles from the notes based on an idea, to the pencil draft which is then followed by the hand-written submission and the typescript. The archive Tales of the VC comprises 94 individual accounts of the heroism that earned the highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. These are recounted deferentially and economically, yet they still manage to move the reader. Date stamp: 12 April 1918.