Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Cumberland was born November 17th 1892 in Rainton, County Durham and baptised there December 21st 1892. He was the eldest surviving son of James Cumberland born about 1867 in Rainton and wife Elizabeth Alice Scott born about 1869 in Pittington with whom he had eight children in all with only six surviving, four boys and two girls. His father was a coal miner working underground as a stone man and he also by the age of eighteen was working as a putter, pushing the tubs full of coal from the coal face to the shaft. In 1911 the family were living in Coxhoe at 57 Long Row. At the out break of war Robert was working at Windlestone Colliery.
In answer to the call for volunteers Robert first enlisted September 3rd 1914 in the Durham Light Infantry and transferred to the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve at Crystal Palace November 3rd 1914 as Able Seaman KP875, “Anson” 8th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Royal Navy Division that fought alongside the Army. The R.N.D. fleet left Avonmouth 26/29th February 1915 putting in at Valletta, Malta March 8th, leaving the next day. In the evening of March 11th the fleet dropped anchor at Mundros Bay and was engaged in various encounters with the Turks until April 24th when the fleet made for Gallipoli. The demonstration by the R.N.D. took place in the Gulf of Saros and landings made at Helles. The Helles attack was planned as a daytime attack. French troops were to capture Kereves Dere, and the British, Australian and New Zealanders were assigned to Krithia and Achi Baba. After 30 minutes of artillery preparation the assault began mid morning May 6th 1915. It was during this attack that 23 year old Able Seaman KP875 Robert Cumberland was killed. Robert has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Helles Memorial, Panel 8-15, which stand on the tip of the Gallipoli peninsular, Turkey. It is in the form of an obelisk and can been clearly seen by the ships passing through the Dardanelles.
Robert was awarded the 1914 Star, The Victory Medal and the British War Medal, these were sent to his father who was living at 7 Tenth Street, Easington Colliery, Co Durham.
In God’s Safe Keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Cumberland is remembered at Chilton on C107.04, C107.12 and C107.14 (Darlington D40.039)
