Pauline Priano has submitted the following:
Robert McGiffen was my grandmother’s first cousin on her mother’s side. He was born at 26 Ridley Street, Felling, November 1st 1896, fourth son of William McGiffen (1854 Ireland - 1936 South Shields) and Mary Smith (1859 Penrith - 1938 South Shields) and one of seven surviving children, (two deceased) five boys and two girls. His father William worked as a steel smelter at the shipyards and Robert at the age of 15 was already working as a miner below ground.
He first enlisted in September 3rd 1914 in the Durham Light Infantry, transferring under the recruitment rules to the Border Regiment as Private 14647 Robert McGiffen, 2nd Battalion attached to the 7th Division. Robert remained in England, training, until July 13th 1915 when, the following day, he embarked with his unit to France. In the run up to the Battle of Loos Robert was wounded on September 14th 1915, receiving initial medical attention in the field. However, he was shipped back to England for further treatment to one of the auxiliary hospitals run by The Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Kent, where he was admitted on September 20th 1915.
After his discharge he was granted a furlough from October 12th-21st 1915 to return home to his parents at 2a Fourth Street, Bensham. He did not rejoin his unit in France until January 1st 1916.
During the Battle of Albert, July 1st-5th 1916, Robert was once again wounded, sustaining a gunshot wound to the thigh and lower leg. He was taken by the 25th Field Ambulance to the field hospital, where he died of his wounds on July 3rd 1916. His body was taken to Abbeville Military Hospital, July 4th. He is interred at Abbeville Communal Cemetery, section IV C3. Abbeville is a shared cemetery with British and French WW1 burials adjacent to one another along with the local cemetery burials. Robert was unmarried and I paid my own personal respects to him in July 2012.
His father received a letter from the Ministry requesting confirmation of his home address in order that his belongings be returned to him in November 1916. At that time they were living at 2a, Fourth Street, Bensham, Gateshead. It was not until June 17th 1920 that his parents received a bronze plaque and letter from the King and his awards, which were the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Private Robert Mc Giffen’s name could be found on a plaque to the 3rd Corps Gateshead Salvation Army, Pine Street Headquarters, Gateshead. This building was demolished and after several phone calls I was informed that the plaque was not retained. His name also appears on the Gateshead Roll of Honour and a newspaper cutting with his image is kept along with many others at Gateshead Library. No one knows who began this collection but it is an important part of our local history. There is a misprint as regards Robert’s surname written as McGRIFFEN with an R. There was no WW1 casualty of that name in any British regiment, therefore there is no doubt that this is the likeness of our Robert.
Robert’s two elder brothers James and Josephalso enlisted. They too were killed.
Fortunately for their youngest brother Frederick (Fred) the war ended just before he was due to be called up. He married Lily Tulip from Gateshead and emigrated to Australia in 1926. His living relatives are in Sydney, N.S.W.
Remembered with immense pride. In God’s Loving Care.
Rest in Peace.
Robert McGiffen is remembered in Gateshead on G39.004 page 50
