Hooge Crater Cemetery
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert King Gardner, one of 10 known children was the 5th born of 6 sons, he had 4 elder sisters. His father William Gardner born at Beeford, East Riding, Yorkshire in 1842 was living in 1851 aged 9 years at Main Street, Beeford, his widowed mother having married labourer Francis Warcap, 6 years her junior. William migrated to the north east alone, settling at Haswell, County Durham, where he met Margaret Smith King of Easington, where she was baptised November 19th 1848. Their son William Jnr was born in 1868, however, they were not married until 1870 in the district of Easington and returned for a short while to William’s birthplace of Beeford where Margaret gave birth to daughter Jane Elizabeth in 1871. Three months later Margaret and her children were again living in Haswell with her siblings George and Sarah King. William did eventually return permanently to the north east, however they moved extensively over the years in his search for employment. John Gardner was born at Lambton in 1873, Annie 1876 at Hetton, James 1877 at Washington, George 1879 at Sunderland. They settled once again at Haswell as of 1881 where they were living at Chapel Lane, William employed as a horse-keeper at the colliery. Their family was complete by 1887 with the birth of Charlie at Fencehouses, preceded by his siblings Mary and Sarah in 1881 and 1883 respectively at Haswell, and Robert King Gardner in 1885 at Easington. They had transferred to 20, Sunderland Row, Shotton by 1891, William and his son John (18) supported the family employed as coal miners. William Gardner Snr died in 1896 aged 55 years, registered in the district of Easington. His widow left Easington and moved to 17, Cornhill Road, Southwick, Sunderland, a shared property occupied by the Gardners and Patrick Martin, his wife and 3 children. The household consisted of Margaret, her married daughter Mary and husband William Stephenson (21) a hewer, Robert (16) a driver below ground and Charlie (14) a token boy above ground at the colliery. Robert was living in with his brother James and family at 102, Second Street, Hordon, in 1911, his brother was a deputy overman at the colliery, Robert (26), a hewer.
Robert King Gardner was married in the district of Easington during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1911 to Laura Birbeck, born February 24th 1892, at Eldon, County Durham, with whom he had a son Robert Jnr born during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1912.
When Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany Robert King Gardner was one of the first to enlist at Bishop Auckland assigned as Private 3439 Durham Light Infantry. The new recruits divided into 4 companies, ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ were trained at Boldon, Ravensworth and Bensham, along with the 1/6th Battalion Territorial Force recalled from their summer camp in Wales, for active service overseas. The battalion departed from Newcastle-upon-Tyne railway station, April 19th 1915 bound for France, disembarking at Boulogne. They concentrated near Steenvoorde just as the Germans used poison gas for the first time during their attack at Ypres and were rushed into battle attached to the 50th Division, fighting for their lives during the Second Battle of Ypres. They suffered casualties from heavy shelling and gas attacks on the Frezenberg Line during the defence of Ypres. June 3rd the 1/6th and 1/8th due to the loss of so many men were amalgamated to form the 6/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, July 15th 1915 having been reduced to cadre strength the battalion transferred to the Lines of Communication until reinforcements were received, August 11th 1915, reverting once again to the 1/6th D.L.I. still part of the 50th Northumbrian Division they remained on the Ypres salient until August 1916.
Private 3439 Robert King Gardner was killed in action, December 19th 1915 on the Ypres salient, his body buried in a small concentration on the battlefield by his comrades, map reference I. 19. b. 6. 5. Sanctuary Wood, Dickebusch his grave marked with a cross bearing the words, “In loving memory of Private 3439 R. K. GARDNER 6/ D.L.I. 19.12.15.” After the Armistice at the request of the Belgian and French Governments isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries. The remains of Private Gardner were exhumed and brought into Hooge Crater Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium, July 3rd 1919 where he was laid to rest grave XVII. A. 11 with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain. At the time of his demise in 1915 he was 29 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 50, Eleventh Street, Hordon, County Durham, having transferred there after she was married in 1918 to Joseph Fox born March 23rd 1890 at Oakenshaw, County Durham. She and Joseph had 3 children, Joseph Jnr in 1919, Thomas C.1921 and Janet F. Fox June 11th 1930. In 1939, Joseph. a coal hewer, Laura and daughter Laura (9), were living at 50, Eleventh Street, Easington., County Durham.
Laura Fox-Gardner nee Birbeck died during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1976 aged 84 years, her death registered in the district of N. Cleveland. Details as regards Robert Gardner Jnr unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert King Gardner is remembered at Bishop Auckland in B142.07 part 01 at Coundon on C117.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 335
