Archibald Robb

Archibald Robb was born in Hobart on 12 August 1887 and worked as an engineer before enlisting on 4 August 1915.  He served with the  12^th 4^th Field Artillery Battery in London, Belgium, France and Egypt.

After the cessation of World War One, rowing clubs in England planned a peacetime regatta with races for amateur oarsmen of the Allied Armies.

Sergeant Robb and Lieutenant Fred House were two Tasmanians selected to row against top crews from nearly all the Allied nations in the Royal Henley Peace Regatta in England on 5 July 1919.  They were included in the AIF No 1 Eight Oar Race crew which was a substitute for the Henley Grand Challenge Cup. 

In the heats, the AIF No 1 crew defeated the AIF No 2 crew to reach the final.  The AIF No 1 crew defeated the Oxford University crew over the Henley course by seven minutes and seven seconds.  This was the fastest time recorded for the full course of the regatta.

After the rowing commitments in England finished, Archie Robb boarded the “Euripides” on 6 September 1919 bound for Australia.  He was discharged on 4 January 1920.

Archibald Robb married Zoe Schott and had two children (Helen and John), six grandchildren and eight grandchildren.  Archibald Robb died suddenly in London on 2 September 1962.

• Information and photos courtesy, Helen Gay,  Archibald Robb's granddaughter.