Brenda McMahon has submitted the following:-
Robert’s parents Robert and Margaret (nee Liddle) married in 1895 and went on to have 12 children of whom 5 unfortunately died. The family lived for several years at Blue Quarries Road Sheriff Hill.
Robert was born in 1898. He was a member of the Church of England.
His siblings were Jane, Elizabeth then later Thomas, Louisa, Ada, James Thomas and William.
Robert enlisted 16th August 1915 then on 16thFebruary 1916 he was drafted for service with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. By 25 February he was posted to Howe Battalion at Stavros, Greece. He was next moved again to Light Trench Mortar Battery from 26 June 1916 until 1 December at which time he developed an inguinal abscess so was invalided back home via 1st Field Ambulance on 7 December 1916.
After he recovered he was drafted to British Expeditionary Force then by the following month joined his former Howe Battalion from 10 May 1917 until his death 19 August 1917 in France.
Robert died of wounds, aged 22 years in the 19th Casualty Clearing Station suffering from a shell wound compound fracture of skull vault with protrusion of the brain.
He is buried in France.
When Margaret (his mother) died 6 August 1920 she left an estate of £387.4s.0d. to her widowed daughter, Jane Farrell.
Medals:- British War Medal and Victory Medal
Robert Purdy is remembered at Gateshead on G39.004 and at Gateshead Fell on H92.08
