CAMERON, Robert Ewen

ROBERT EWEN CAMERON

Born 27 October 1890 at Portarlington Victoria, the son of a Presbyterian Minister

• Educated at Geelong College, University of Melbourne and Adelaide, Graduating with Bachelor of Arts degree
• Teacher at St Peter's College in 1912 in the Prep School then transferred to the Senior School in 1915
• Whilst residing at 14 Elizabeth Street Norwood South Australia, enlisted on 22 May 1916 and appointed to E. Coy. 2nd Depot Battalion AIF
• Robert was 5'4" hazel eyes, brown hair, single and Presbyterian
• Attended Duntroon Officers School and qualified as a 2nd Lieutenant on 20th December 1916
• Embarked at Melbourne per H.M. Nestor on 28 February 1918 and disembarked at Liverpool, England on 4th April 1918
• Attended School of Musketry at Tidsworth during April 1918
• Departed for France on 19 July 1918 where he joined the 48th Battalion
• On the 10th September 1918 he was promoted to Lieutenant
• On the 25th September 1918 awarded a Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations near Le Verguier on the 18th September 1918
• Returned to England on the 1st February 1919 and departed for Australia on the 28th February 1919 per the Archises, disembarking at Adelaide on 11th April 1919
• Officers appointment terminated on 28th April 1919 due to 'cessation of hostilities'

Upon rejoining the school Robert devoted the rest of his life to St Peters though, characteristically, when the need arose, he joined the Voluntary Defence Corps during the Second World War.

Robert married in 1921.  Unfortunately his wife suffered spells of ill health.  Although they had no children their life together was a happy and devoted one until Mrs Cameron died 33 years later.

Robert died on the 3rd of October 1959 and in a tribute to Robert Cameron, St Peter's College Magazine of 1959 wrote "To try to sum up in words all that he stood for to us is an impossible task".  Robert was the longest serving teacher in the history of St Peters and upon his death a bursary was named in his honour.

Cameron worked at St Peters College Adelaide from 1912 - 1959

Addendum
Memories of R E Cameron by David Jones, former pupil
"Mr Cameron (his nickname was "Stumpy" because he was fairly short) was Housemaster of Short House, of which I was House Captain in 1959. Although he died in 1958, I am sure that it was on his recommendation that I reached such august heights at St Peter's College! I was also the inaugural recipient in 1959 of the R E Cameron Prize, worth 10 pounds, which I splurged on a leatherbound first edition of the poetry of John Milton (photo attached). As Stumpy was my much-admired English teacher who instilled in all of us a love of English literature, I'm sure he would have approved."