Robert James Horgan was born in Daylesford and was a Railway Employee by trade when he enlisted in the 8th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement on 9 June 1915 at the age of 25. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board SS Makarini on 15 September 1915. His voyage was not without incident, and while at sea he was charged with æconduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he 1. Questioned the authority of an NCO, and 2. Used improper language'. He joined the 8th Battalion at Anzac just two weeks before the Gallipoli evacuation was completed. In March 1916 he reached France where, on July 24th he was wounded, sustaining a gunshot wound to his left foot. He was evacuated to hospital in England and while his wound was not assessed as serious he did not rejoin his battalion, now in Belgium, until October 1917. In February 1918 he was withdrawn to hospital in England suffering from Trench Fever. He was then returned to Australia on the Port Darwin and disembarked at Sydney on August 17th 1918.
Tree No. 730