Photo : NEWMP

Medal Index Card

23rd Military Stationery Hospital Baghdad

Seaforth Recruiting Poster

Robert Finlay was born at Lavery Street, Felling, Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham in October 1882, the youngest of 7 children, 3 sons and 4 daughters. His father John Finlay was born 1836 at Atrick, Arthuret, Cumberland, [baptised on the 25th June 1836, the son of a hand loom cotton weaver, Edward Finley born 1811, and a widow by 1851, and his wife Anne who was baptised on the 20th February 1811]. Having migrated to the north east before 1864, he met and married Elizabeth Ellen Thompson in the district of Sunderland in 1865, Elizabeth was born at Gateshead in 1842. The family resided at Lowery Street, Heworth, John Finlay was a Chemist Labourer.

By 1891 the family had moved to Henry Place, Felling, Heworth. The children still at this address were his three sons in 1891, Robert aged 9, was a scholar, Edward age 18, born 1873, John aged 14, born 1875, and only two daughters Mary aged 12, born 1879, and Margaret aged 13, born 1878. The other daughters Barbara, born 1867, and Frances, born 1870, had left home by 1891. Robert's father died in 1904 aged 68 years when Robert was 21 years.

Robert had enlisted into the Northumberland Fusiliers on the 13th November 1899 at Newcastle, and was given the service number 6140, he was described in the 'Police Gazette' entry dated the 24th April 1900, as 18½ years old, 5 feet and 5½ inches tall, Fair complexion, Blue eyes and Brown Hair. He deserted on the 5th March 1900. His particulars were circulated in the Police Gazette as were others who had gone AWOL or deserted.

Robert had worked for the Corporation Gas Company at Carlisle from around 1904 until about March 1905 as a Labourer. His trade was stated as a Stoker on his Attestation form.

Robert Finlay attested in the name of John Winder, [he changed his name so his earlier enlistment, with his desertion, would not show up], on the 21st May 1906, at Fort George, Scotland for 12 years, 3 with the Colours and 9 in the reserves, he was 24 years and 7 months old. 5 feet 8 inches, weight 152 lbs, a fresh complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. He had a tattoo of a crucifixion on his right forearm. He passed his Medical examination at Dumfries on the 21st May 1906. On the 22nd May 1906 a confidential Army Form ref B64 was sent to his former employer the Corporation Gas Works at Berwick, for the attention of his foreman Mr Burkett for a character reference. Mr Thomas Burkett replied by return the questions that were outlined on the B64 form, what capacity have you know John Winder? General Labourer. What time has elapsed since you last saw him to speak to? About beginning of April. What do you know of his character- Is he Sober? Honest? Respectable? To the best of my Knowledge, he is a splendid worker, he never lost a minute while at the Gas Works, respectable Sober.

He joined the Seaforth Highlanders as a private with the service number 9405, at the Depot on the 25th May 1906. He was posted to 'C' Company, 2nd Battalion on the 3rd July 1906. He then was supposed to be transferred into the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on the 23rd January 1907. However, on the 12th January 1907 he deserted.

There is a Certificate of Deserter's Balance Form ref O 1624, which shows a balance of pay outstanding to John whilst being a deserter. It amounted to £1 15s 11¼ pence. This was shown in the Accounting Period for February 1908 for the Regiment at Hamilton.

He was apprehended in Glasgow by Police Constable A77 David Taylor of the Glasgow Police on the 20th May 1907. When questioned he admitted he was a Deserter. John [James, was the name on the descriptive return, and John signed it as James], Winder had been given away by an unknown source and the Policeman was awarded the 15 shillings reward.

He was put in solitary confinement until the 10th June 1907 where his Court Martial was due. The charge was (i) Deserting His Majesty's Service, (ii) Losing by Neglect his equipment. He was convicted and sentenced to 63 days detention. He returned to duty on the 12th August 1907.

On the 17th August 1907 he deserted again, this time he was tried by Court Martial on the 7th April 1908, after being apprehended. The charges were (i) Desertion (ii) Losing by Neglect his equipment, (iii) Fraudently enlisted in [the] Royal Artillery Reserve on the 25th February 1908, He was convicted and sentenced to six calendar months detention. He was collected from the Royal Artillery Reserve on the 30th March 1908.

He had lost over 48 items of clothing and personal kit which was written up on his Court of Inquiry form B115, at Edinburgh which was assembled on the 9th September 1907. The Court declared that Private Winder 9405 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders illegally absconded himself from Edinburgh on the 17th August and is still absent. They therefore conclude him to be an absentee.

He was supposed to serve 183 days detention till the 7th October 1908 when John was to return to duty. But on the 4th September 1908, he had a unexpired period of detention remitted, to start from the 4th September due to being embarked for India. So he was released on the 4th September 1908 and posted to the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders now in India.

On the 9th April 1909, John is in confinement awaiting trial. He was tried by a District Court Martial on the 28th April and sentenced to 84 days detention, this time the charge is 'When a soldier acting as a sentinel sleeping on his post' [sic]. He returns to duty on the 21st July 1909.

He then is awarded 14 days detention by The Commanding Officer for "Using obscene language to a N.C.O", on the 4th October 1910.

He was in India for over 6 years and 17 days before being sent with his battalion to the Western Front on the 21st September 1914. John arrived in France on the 12th October 1914 at Marseilles. He was in France until the 10th November 1914.

The 1st Battalion were part of the 19th [Dehra Dun} Brigade in the Meerut Division in October 1915. It saw action at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915.

His mother Elizabeth by this time was residing at 21 Blandford Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with Robert, John's brother also is residing there.

John was wounded on the 9th November 1914 by a gunshot wound to his back. He had only been in France for 31 days. He was returned to the UK on the 11th November 1914. Whilst at the Depot John Winder elected to have former service forfeited on conviction of desertion viz 68 days from the 10th June 1907 to the 16th August 1907, restored on completion of 3 years, clear up entry in Regtiment Conduct Book, para 273 King's Regulation's. Restoration to take effect from the 21st June 1914. John is now in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion from the 8th February 1915 at Cromarty. 8th April 1915 he is posted back to the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders.

He is in France with his battalion until the 24th November 1915, when his battalion is transferred to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He spent 1 year and 256 days in the M.E.F. theatre of War. His battalion the 1st Seaforth Highlanders, moved to Mesopotamia, landing at Basra later in the month of December. They were part of the 21st Brigade, 7th Indian Division. They took part in the Siege of Kut Al Amara, 7th December 1915 to the 29th April 1916, and the fall of Baghdad in March 1917. The battalion moved to Palestine in January 1918.

On the 10th April 1917 he was admitted to the 23rd British Stationery Hospital at Bagdad, [No 23 Stationary Hospital went up to Bagdad in May 1917 and took over the Turkish Military Hospital which was filthy and verminous],* with abscesses, being discharged from the hospital on the 4th June 1917, also being sent to a rest camp on the 15th April which he finally left on the 21st June 1917.

The Infantry Record Office at Perth meanwhile about this time had a query about J. Winder's separation allowance, the reply came back as no trace of a S.A. being paid.

In the first week of August 1917, he was posted back to India. Whilst in India he was admitted to Hospital on the 7th August for the Venereal Disease Gonorrhoea which he contracted on the 2nd August 1917. After treatment at Wellington, he was declared free from all signs of Gonorrhoea on the 26th March 1918.

Leaving India on the 26th June 1918, arriving in Egypt from the 27th June 1918. He was in Egypt for 243 days.

On the 18th August 1918, Private John Winder was one of the men picked for the proposed compulsory transfer of men to the Royal Engineers. He was compulsory transferred to the Royal Engineers 19th September 1918, with the service number WR/143106. John was now with the R.O.D, [Rail Operating Division], with the Eastern Expeditionary Force. Now involved in the maintenance and operation of the waterways and railways.

Here he passed his practical test as a Loco Engine Fireman for 6 months on the 6th March 1919, earning an increase of his daily pay to 2 shilling and 2 pence backdated to the 19th August 1918. 'Proficient'. Based at Geowal.

He was given a Certificate Army Form B195 headed Certificate of Trade Proficiency dated 5th September 1818 certifying that he had been tested and proved himself on the Military Railways.

John Winder was Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig in the London Gazette dated 7th July 1919, 31437. He was also awarded the D.C.M. and the French Medal Medaille Militaire. Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in the field, London Gazette dated 18th June 1917, supplement 6013. "9405 Private J. Winder Seaforth Highlanders. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, He went forward under very heavy fire and assisted in establishing a machine gun in the enemy's second line. During the rest of the day he repeatedly carried messages and ammunition across No Man's Land", the London Gazette, 31st August 1917, supplement no 9108.

Sapper WR/143106 Royal Engineers D.C.M., M.M. was discharged from the Army with a pension due to illness and/or wounds received, no longer fit for military service, awarded also the 1914 'Mons' Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, [Wilfred Pip and Squeak]. [Someone signed for his Medals, on May 13th 1922]. He was transferred to Section 'B' Army Reserve on Demobilization from the 9th April 1919.

His pay was being paid to Robert Finlay c/o 34 Back Crow Hall, High Felling, Co Durham.

He was finally discharged on the 28th January 1920.

Robert after his demobilization married in the district of Gateshead, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1919 Annie Burns born 1892, when he was 37 years old.

He died at Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham, aged 38 years, March 3rd 1920, interred with military honours at Heworth St. Mary Churchyard, SE section. His widow Annie of 38 Havelock Street paid the sum of 7 shillings 10 pence for an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads,'Death Divides But Memory Clings'. They did not have any children.

She remarried at Gateshead in 1921 John Blakey with whom she had three children, Freda born 1922, William 1923-1944 and Kenneth 1929. Annie Blakey-Finlay nee Burns died aged 65 years at Gateshead, County Durham in 1957.

Robert’s mother Elizabeth Ellen Finlay nee Thompson died in 1930 at Gateshead, aged 88 years.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Research: Pauline Priano/James Pasby

Sources : Mespotamia Photographs with Thanks.

Quote * School of Nursing Collections

School of Nursing Collections
Mespotamia Photographs
The CWGC entry for Sapper Finlay