Robert was born on 22nd October 1898 in Gateshead, Durham to parents Robert and Annie, their second son and first recorded on the 1901 census living at 60 Second Street, Gateshead. He was attending school aged 12 during the 1911 census along with two younger siblings. With the family having grown they had moved and settled at 32 Coatsworth Road, Gateshead, sometime in the last ten years.
A few months after the declaration of war Robert signed up to the Royal Navy to begin his basic training. He was recorded as being 5’3” tall with brown hair, blue eyes and he was to serve for 12 years, rated as a Boy 2nd Class when posted to HMS Ganges on 19th November 1914. He rose to Boy 1st Class on 29th March 1915 and left the Suffolk training base on 12th April 1915. He transferred to HMS Pembroke for two days before heading to his first and only ship, HMS Vanguard on 15th April 1915. He served on the dreadnought during the Battle of Jutland and spent 7 days in cells from 28th November 1916 to 6th December 1916 for reasons unknown. He rose to Ordinary Seaman on his eighteenth birthday, 22nd October 1916 but was killed in the explosion on 9th July 1917.
He was awarded the Star, Victory and British War medals following his death which were forwarded to his father and is remembered in perpetuity on the Chatham Naval Memorial and locally on the Clarke Chapman & Co Victoria Works memorial where he worked as a fitter.
#289 - 711/843
Sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Free BMD
1901 & 1911 England Census
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services; Class: ADM 188; Piece: 713
United Kingdom, Battle of Jutland Crew Lists, 1916
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: 010 (1914 - 1919)
CWGC register
Naval Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1972 Class: ADM 171; Piece: 115
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/10; Scan Number: 0509
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