1. Home
  2. /
  3. EPGs A-Z
  4. /
  5. M
  6. /
  7. MELVILLE – Robert Royal...

MELVILLE – Robert Royal Marines: 43rd Company

Return to Clara-1857 EPF List

Click on images to view (if available) a larger image. Use your browser’s Back button to return to site.

Royal Marines 1854 Britains Sea Soldiers Vol 1 by Cyril Field
China Medal 1842
British Crimea Medal (Balaclava & Sebastopol Clasps)
Turkish Crimea Medal
NameMELVILLE – Robert
Regiment (s)Royal Marines 43rd Company
Regiment Number (s) 7242
Date/Age/Place/Trade or
Profession at Attestation
13th November 1833 / 18 years 8 months / Gloucester England
Labourer
Description – Height
Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars
5 Ft 7½ in
Fresh / Hazel / Brown / None
Overseas Service/DurationNimrod 17th December 1834 to
Ringdove 18th April 1837
Wellesley 30th June 1837 – 8th August 1841
Ferret 11th December 1841 – 7th March 1843
Vanguard 10th February 1845 – 20th March 1849
Swift 27th June 1849 – 29th January 1853
Britannia 25th July 1853 to
Simoom 29th November 1855
Length of Service22 years 5 months
Rank/Date/Place of DischargePrivate / 19th April 1856 / Devonport Plymouth Devon
Campaign MedalsChina War Medal (1840-42)
Crimea War Medal: clasps for Balaklava and Sebastopol
Turkish Crimea Medal
Intended Residence at
Discharge
Plymouth Devon
Pension Districts1856 – 3rd Plymouth
Pension Paid£16-16-0 per annum
Date of Departure and Place
England or Ireland
19th March 1857 London England
Ship and Date of Arrival
Western Australia
CLARA 3rd July 1857
Date/Place of Birth1815 Dumfries Dumfriesshire Scotland
Date/Place of BaptismNot yet known
Father
Date/Place of Birth
Not yet known
Mother
Date/Place of Birth
Marriage
Not yet known
SiblingsNot yet known
1st Wife
Date of Birth or Baptism
HARDMAN Margaret
Not yet known
Date/Place of Marriage29th May 1857 at sea aboard the Clara during its voyage to Western Australia
Children by 1st WifeMary Agnes Ellen (Helen)
B  1858 Perth Western Australia
M MASON John 1875 Perth Western Australia
D 3rd August 1936 Fremantle Western Australia
bur Anglican section Karrakatta Cemetery  Western Australia
Margaret (twin)
B 1860 Perth Western Australia
M CUMMING Duncan 1884 Fremantle Western Australia
D 8th January 1914 Perth WA
Buried Karrakatta Cemetery WA
Thomas (twin)
B 1860 Perth Western Australia
Thomas Henry
B 1862 Perth Western Australia
D 17th November 1883 Geraldton Western Australia
Julia
B 1865 Perth Western Australia
D 1866 Perth Western Australia
Robert Richard
B 1867 Perth Western Australia
D 20th July 1951 Royal Perth Hospital Perth Western Australia
Father of 1st wife
Date/Place of Birth
Not yet known
Mother of 1st wife
Date/Place of Birth
Marriage
Not yet known
2nd Wife
Date/Place of Marriage
Children by 2nd Wife
2nd Husband of WifeIRWIN Samuel Thomas
Date/Place of Marriage1869 Perth Western Australia
Children by 2nd HusbandSarah Ann B 1870 Perth Western Australia
Elizabeth B 1870 (deduced)
M CLEMENTS Albert Edward 1898 Beaconsfield WA
D 5th February 1948 Mt Lawley Perth WA
Bur Karrakatta Cemetery
Land Grants Western
Australia
None
Occupation after
Arrival
Assistant Warder Convict Establishment Western Australia
30th January 1859-19th November 1859
Newspaper ArticlesPerth Gazette Friday19th February 1869 page 2 death of Robert Melville
The West Australian Tuesday 13th January 1914 page 9 Obituary Margaret Cumming
The West Australian Tuesday 4th August 1936 page 1 Death notice Agnes Mason
The West Australian Saturday 7th February 1948 page 1 Death notice Elizabeth Clements
The West Australian Monday 23rd July 1951 page 16 Death Notice Robert Richard Melville
Departure from Western
Australia
Not applicable
Date/Place of Death/Burial14th February 1869 Perth Western Australia
Not yet known
Date/Place of Death/Burial
Wife
9th July 1890 Colonial Hospital Perth Western Australia
East Perth Cemeteries Western Australia
Will or ProbateNone known
Further InformationIt was during his period of service on the HMS Wellesley that Robert earned his China Medal.
He was also serving on the HMS Ferret in 1849 when it transported the political prisoners William Smith O’Brien, T.M.Meagher, Bellew McManus and Patrick O’Donahue to Hobart Tasmania
He was on the Britannia when he earned his Crimean Medals
It is not clear how Margaret Hardman came to be aboard the Clara as she married Melville on the Clara some nine weeks after ship’s departure.
In 1881 his widow applied for a land grant however as Robert had not applied for one during his life time neither she or his son were eligible