Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Robert was born at Durham in 1893 the son of George and Mary Ann Cheesmond. The couple had 7 children together but sadly 1 died.
It appears Mary Ann had a daughter, Jane Cheesmond, in 1888 which was before her marriage to George in 1891.
1901 George was the assistant country blacksmith. The family lived at Merrington with Jane and her half-brothers Richard and Samuel.
1911 Life was much as before although the older lads were now working. Richard, a coal miner hewer, Robert coal miner putter and young Samuel aged 15 was a bank hand at the colliery. Another child, Norman had arrived who was at school. Mary’s father Richard Cheesmond, a pensioner, lived with them too. They also were able to afford a servant, Mary.
1939 register shows George and Mary Ann still living with their single son, Norman now aged 32 at 13 Chapel Street, Spennymoor.
Robert enlisted at Bishop Auckland. He originally served with the Army Service Corps as a driver number R/066974 then was later transferred to the Kings Royal Rifle Corps as a private with number A/202640. He embarked for France October 25th 1915.
In 1917 the 1st Battalion were in action during the German retreat to the Hindenburg line, the Battle of Arras and the Battle of Cambrai.
In 1918 they fought on the Somme, in the Battles of the Hindenburg Li ne and the Battle of Selle. The 2nd Division was selected to advance into Germany and formed part of the Occupation Force after the Armistice.
Robert was killed in action on October 8th 1918. Monies amounting to £50.2s.10d were paid to his father, George. Rumilly was captured by the 3rd Division on the 2nd October, 1918. There are now over 80, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified. The dates of death cover the first fortnight of October, 1918 with Roberts among them.
The inscription on his headstone reads :- Gone but not forgotten
Medals: 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
Robert Johnson is remembered at Kirk Merrington on K26.01
