Berks Military Extension
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert McDonald was the eldest of 5 siblings all of whom by 1911 had survived, the offspring of Robert McDonald Snr born at Blackhill, County Durham in 1871 and was married in 1894 to Barbara Hannah Milburn native of Ebchester, County Durham born December 10th 1870. Robert Jnr was born at Blackhill in 1896, however, his parents had moved to 23, Ellerslie Terrace, Sunderland, where Robert Snr was employed as a railway goods clerk, by the time Joseph Henry was born in 1900. Over the next 10 years their family grew with the birth of Elsie, June 4th 1901, Wilfred 1904 and Alfred Milburn in 1907. They had moved into 4 rooms at 11, Stranton Terrace by 1911 and Robert Jnr (15) had joined his father employed as a railway clerk. Their 6th child Reginald R. McDonald was born after the completion of the 1911 census, January 12th 1912.
After the declaration of war, when Robert McDonald Jnr enlisted at Wallsend-on-Tyne, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, in or around July 1915, he was assigned as Private 582 to the 28th Reserve Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. In November 1915 it was at Ripon and by December moved to Harrogate as part of the 19th Reserve Brigade.
Private McDonald was posted to the 12th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers part of Kitchener’s 3rd New Army and departed with the British Expeditionary Force joining his regiment in France attached to the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division as of January 1916 and participated with the division during the Battles of the Somme at Albert, July 1st-13th 1916, Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th. Between this engagement and the subsequent at Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd, the 12th and 13th Battalions were in the Arras sector returning to the Somme participating at Flers and the Battle of Morval, September 25th-28th, and Transloy, October 1st-18th 1916.
These movements raise the question as to why Private McDonald was interred in Belgium as the burials at Berks Cemetery Extension in Plot 1 were made between June 1916 through to September 1917. One explanation could be that some information regarding his service is missing and he may have been with another fighting unit other than the 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, in the absence of a military record this remains a mystery.
Private 582 Robert McDonald Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action, August 22nd 1916, and is at rest within Berks Cemetery Extension, 12.5 kilometres south of Ypres in Belgium, grave I. D. 16.
As sole legitimate beneficiary his mother Barbara Hannah received all monies due to her son and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 27, Hampden Road, Roker, Sunderland. His father commissioned at a cost of 5 shillings 3 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Peace Perfect Peace”.
Robert McDonald and his son Reginald were involved in a serious road collision with a motor vehicle at Singleton cross-roads, near Blackpool, whilst riding a motor-cycle, Saturday, June 18th 1938. Both were thrown off, Reginald who was driving was seriously injured but his father Robert died soon after being admitted to being admitted to Blackpool Victoria Infermary. Robert McDonald was interred at Mere Knolls Cemetery, Torver Crescent, Sunderland, after a service at St. Andrew’s Church, Roker, County Durham at 1.40 p.m. Thursday, June 23rd 1938.
In 1939 Barbara Hannah was still living at 27, Hampden Road with daughter Elsie and son Reginald who supported them both employed as a marine engineer and fitter at Armstrong Whitworths, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland.
Barbara Hannah McDonald nee Milburn of 27, Hamden Road, Sunderland, died July 17th 1948, aged 78 years, probate August 28th, effects in the sum of 496 pounds 19 shillings 5 pence to her unmarried daughter Elsie McDonald.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert McDonald is remembered at Roker on R50.02 and at Sunderland in S140.048 part 3
