Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Robert was born on 12 May 1873 in Templecarn, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He married Jane Elizabeth Black on 15 Jun 1899 at St Mary's Anglican Church, Timaru, Canterbury. The couple had three children born before his enlistment, two of them at Fairlie.

On 17 November 1915 Robert enlisted for service with the NZ Expeditionary Force, 10th Reinforcements, Canterbury Mounted Rifles, C Squadron as a Trooper 7/2314. He was also appointed as cook for his unit. With his unit he departed from Wellington on 8 April 1916 for Egypt where he spent the remainder of his war. Jane was granted the shilling per day separation allowance for wives of members of the NZEF by presenting her marriage certificate on 6 December 1915.

The Timaru Herald of 8 February 1919 carried the following report:

“FAIRLIE NOTES. WELCOME HOME. A number of soldiers have returned, during the past few weeks, and they have all been accorded a welcome at the station as they arrived, and a public reception at a social afterwards… At these receptions at the station the Pipe Band has been in evidence and a Brass Band has now been started for patriotic purposes. It had its inception at the celebrations in connection with the signing of the armistice, and under the leadership of Mr D. S. L. Keay intends to continue the good work that it then commenced. On Monday night a large crowd gathered at the railway station to welcome home Trooper Robert Shute, of Kimbell, who had just arrived on the Wiltshire. As the train drew into the station the Brass Band played a number of patriotic airs, and the appearance of the returned man was greeted with hearty cheers. Mr C. J. Talbot extended a cordial welcome to Trooper Shute and congratulated him upon his safe return after a three years' campaign in the East. They all thanked him and his fellows for the fine work done in that and for the satisfactory conclusion which they had helped to gain in the great war. A welcome social would be held at Kimbell on Friday evening when the residents would show their appreciation of his work. Trooper Shute briefly returned thanks for the warm welcome given him and said that he had many of the Mackenzie boys at the front, several of whom would not unfortunately return. They had proved themselves brave and keen soldiers. Cheers were again given for Trooper Shute, who with his wife and family was then motored to his home at Kimbell. In the course of a few minutes private conversation Trooper Shute spoke well of the treatment they had received on the Wiltshire. Both the food and the accommodation were good and the ship was a clean one. He had benefited materially by the voyage out.

The Press reported Robert’s death, aged 77, on 27 June 1950 in Timaru.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [12 November 2016]; SCROll web submission by C Clement, 14 July 2025

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