Robert was born on 20th February 1894, at Sittingbourne, Kent to parents Albert and Eliza.
Not much is known about his early life - during both census he may have been either with Grandparents or Aunt & Uncle’s addresses.
He joined the Navy on 11th September 1913 as a Stoker 2nd Class, training at HMS PEMBROKE I until 31st March 1914. He joined his only ship, HMS VANGUARD on 1st April 1914, until 18th September 1914, when he was discharged from service and placed in cells for 14 days (reasons unknown). Rejoining the crew on 2nd October 1914 as a Stoker 1st Class (he rose in rate on 14th September 1914) his character and behaviour improved until 18th June 1915 when he was sentenced again to the cells for another 14 days. He returned to the crew again on 3rd July 1915 and had no further incidents to warrant his incarceration.
He served on the dreadnought during the Battle of Jutland and was just 24 when killed.
(#44 - 134/843)
Sources:
GRO Reference: 1894 M Quarter in FAVERSHAM Volume 02A Page 887
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: 908
CWGC Register
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: 007 (1914 - 1919)
British Army and Navy Birth, Marriage and Death Records, 1730-1960 National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty and predecessors: Office of the Director General of the Medical Department of the Navy and predecessors: Service Registers and Registers of Deaths and Injuries. Registers of Reports of Deaths
Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919 TNA Series: ADM 242/7; Scan Number: 0610
WWI Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 026/0139/ERS-EVA
Photo source - doverwarmemorialproject.org.uk