| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
Robert was born in 1891 the son of Charles, a farm labourer, and Eliza, the family were living in Rise. Eliza died in 1893. In 1901 Robert was living with his father in Hornsea where Robert went to school and where Charles remained until his death in 1943. At age 21 Robert was working for NER Police and six months later, on 8 Apr 1913, he became a probationary constable with Beverley Borough Police. In 1914 Robert married Nancy Webster. The following spring the Police Watch Committee granted Robert permission to join the Army for the duration of the war.
Robert enlisted with the Coldstream Guards. His Medal Index Card records that he was entitled to the 1915 Star having arrived in France on 15 Dec 1915. His son, Charles, was born in Beverley in 1915. Robert, in the middle of 1917 was preparing for the opening attack of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, more specifically for the Guards, the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. At 3.50am on 31 Jul 1917 the attack commenced and at some point over the following 48 hours, Robert was severely injured and taken to Canada Farm dressing station where he died a few days later. He is remembered with Honour at Canada Farm Cemetery.
Nancy, living in Norwood, Beverley received a letter from Robert’s company officer expressing his sympathy and describing Robert as reliable, hardworking and brave. “A splendid example to the men who loved him”. The Beverley Guardian 18 Aug 1917 printed the letter and a photograph and reported that Robert was the first member of Beverley Borough Police to have been killed in the war. He was 26 years old.
Robert’s name appears on the Hengate, St Mary’s and Beverley Minster War Memorials and on the Norwood Street Shrine. He is also remembered on the Hornsea Roll of Honour and War Memorial
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |