Robert Craig HIDES

Robert Craig Hides was the youngest of three sons born to George Parker Hides and Elizabeth Moir Headrick (nee Paterson), George Paterson (1889), John Gordon Hides (1890) and the Robert. His brother John enlisted and was killed in action. He also had a step sister Jane McNab Headrick.

The heritage-listed Hides Hotel Cairns was built in 1885 by George Hides and Duncan McColl (on an isolated patch of land on Lake Street reputedly swapped for a horse and gambled on the development of the town). Their instincts proved correct and a thriving commercial precinct evolved around Hides Hotel. In 1895, following the death of Robert’s father, George Hides, his mother Elizabeth took over the lease and the hotel became a social hub for travellers and local elites. Elizabeth married again to Charles Walls

Robert enlisted in Cairns on 8 December 1914, three months after his brother John. His age was 22 years 11 months, occupation was Station Hand and his next was his mother, Mrs E M Hides, Cairns Hotel, Cairns.  He was 5 feet 8 ¾ inches in height, weighed 11 stone with a fair complexion, brown eyes and fair hair. His religion was Church of England.

He embarked from Brisbane on the HMAT Seang Choon for Gallipoli and was admitted to hospital several times with illness, finally being transferred to Malta, then to England. He was again admitted to hospital in Birmingham.

Robert  went to France on 4 August 1916 and was killed in action on 15 April 1917 aged 25. He is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.