Studio portrait of 2435 Private (Pte) Robert Kirby, 54th Battalion and an unidentified civilian ...

Studio portrait of 2435 Private (Pte) Robert Kirby, 54th Battalion and an unidentified civilian male. Pte Kirby enlisted on 22 April 1916, joining the 54th Battalion, serving with them until he was returned to Australia and medically discharged in 1918. He was one of three Kirby brothers, all of whom served during the First World War. They were the sons of Samuel Charles and Katherine Kirby. Samuel immigrated to Australia from Britain, while Katherine was an indigenous Australian born in Warren, NSW, who grew up on Haddon Station. 2305 Lance Corporal (L Cpl) Richard Norman Kirby, 20th Battalion, joined A Company at Gallipoli in November 1915. He served with the battalion as a Lewis gunner until he was wounded while attacking a machine gun on 11 August 1918; he managed to capture two machine guns and fourteen Germans, and would later be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the action. He died on 20 August 1918 of wounds received during the action. 2438 George Kirby enlisted with his brother Robert on 22nd of April 1916, also joining the 54th Battalion. He was gassed on 17 October 1917 and returned to Australia for discharge in December 1917.