Category: Military
Rank: Private
Regiment or Ship: 2nd Worcester Regiment; Royal Sussex Regiment
Service Number(s): 639; 4170
Occupation: Musician
Date of Birth: 1890
Place of Birth: Surrey
Date of Death: 18.09.1938
Place of Death: Bushey
Address: 39 Cornwall Road, Bexhill on Sea
Photos and newspaper articles
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Family Information
The researcher cannot find Robert’s parents but he did have a brother John, who served in the Munster Fusiliers, and was Robert’s next of kin in 1883.
Robert married Frances Phillippa Short in York on 18th November 1899. They had two children – Frederica Louise, born on 1st September 1904 on Gibraltar, and Frances Kate, born on 7th July 1907.
When Robert died he was living at Studio No.1, Falconer Road, Bushey. He died of Progressive Muscular Atrophy and his death was notified to the authorities by his son-in-law, J. R. Crabb who was living at 2 Elysian Grove, Aberystwyth.
First World War Experience
Robert first enlisted in the Services when he was only 14 – in 1884. At that time he was 4’ 9” tall, weighed 77lbs, and had a chest measurement of 27½”. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, and had a scar on his left breast. He was a member of the Church of England.
He took part in the South African war between 1st January.1900 and 6th November 1902. In 1904 – between April and October – he was stationed in Gibraltar.
For the South African campaign 1899-1902 he was awarded the medals ‘Relief of Kimberley’ and ‘Paardeberg’.
When he enlisted to serve in WW1, on 27th March 1915, he was 45 and living at 39 Cornwall Road, Bexhill on Sea. At that time, he was over 5’ 10” tall and had a chest of 37” – expansion 2½”.
No details of Roberts WW1 medals can be found.