Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Robert Henry Peacock was the second child of the then farm labourer George Peacock and his wife of three years Mary Jane (nee Mason), who were living and working at Stobbs Farm in West Rainton. Born on 3rd March 1889 he was baptised in West Rainton the day after his birth. Ten years later at the time of the 1901 census Robert had four younger siblings, Edith, Ethel, Charles and Joseph, and the family were now living in Urpeth where his father worked at the local colliery as a labourer; by 1911 they had moved again to Grange Villa and Robert too was working underground as a colliery engine man.
Three months after the 1911 census was taken Robert was on board the SS Victorian making for a new life in Toronto and work as an engineman. He spent a year in a Canadian militia group and on 10th November 1914 enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Exhibition Park, Toronto, becoming Private 55552 in the 19th Battalion, The Battalion left Canada on 13th May 1915 making for West Sandling Camp, Shorncliffe where Robert was confirmed in the rank of Corporal, and was then posted to France on 14th September 1915, arriving in Boulogne and making for camp at Dranoutre as part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.
After a Christmas spent in the trenches the Battalion moved into Divisional Reserve at La Clytte at New Year, and it was here in March that Corporal Peacock was promoted to Acting Sergeant, and eight months later to Company Quartermaster Sergeant. The Battalion were involved in the fighting at Thiepval, Le Transloy and Ancre Heights in 1916 and then on to Vimy Ridge in 1917; but it was in the trenches north west of Lens that CQMS Peacock was killed in action on 7th August 1917.
Robert Henry Peacock is remembered in Grange Villa on G48.03 and at West Pelton on W112.01
In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance.
Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
The CWGC entry for Company Quarter Master Sergeant Peacock
