Robert Alexander Carling (SN 2050) was born in Ballarat. The 44 year old was working as a labourer in the mining industry when he enlisted in Geelong on May 10th 1916. Assigned to the 39th Battalion, his unit embarked from Melbourne in September on board the Shropshire and, after a few weeks training in England, he was posted to France in December. Although he listed his occupation as labourer on enlistment, it appears that his previous trade was a butcher and that he worked as a cook during his time in France. His service record notes that he returned to England in May 1917 'on account of age', where he was transferred to the Medical Corps Training Depot. The Medical Board assessed him as suffering the 'effluxion of time' and deemed him 'Permanently unfit for general service. Fit for home service'. He left England for Australia on board the Port Lyttleton in October 1917 and disembarked in Melbourne in December. He was discharged from the AIF on January 19th 1918.