Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has provided the following:

Born on the 19th November 1918, Robert was the illegitimate son of Florence Loughton, who was born March Q 1900 in Hartlepool. Florence’s parents were George and Margaret Alice Loughton (nee McNichol) who married in Sunderland in the December Q 1890. Florence’s father died aged 32 years in the June Q 1932 in Hartlepool, leaving Margaret a widow with four children, William, Margaret A., George and Florence. At some time prior to July 1909 Margaret and the family returned to Sunderland as in the September Q of 1909 she married Thomas Smith.

By 1911 Margaret and Thomas had a son, James, one month old. They were now living in three rooms at 25 Usher Street, Southwick. Also with them were George, now aged 17 years, and Florence, aged 11 years, who was attending school.

June Q 1923 saw the marriage of Robert’s mother Florence to James Howarth. Robert was now 5 years old; there are no records to tell us if Robert lived with his mother and stepfather. As records show, Robert continued to use his mother’s maiden name. He was employed as a Cabinet Maker. The 1939 Register shows Robert residing at 15 Suddick Street, Southwick with his widowed grandmother Margaret Alice Smith.

It is known that Robert served with the Royal Engineers in the 157 Railway Construction Engineers and had the service number 1909645.

On the 19th July 1941, aged 22 years, Robert died in Ilkley Sanatorium, West Yorkshire. His body was returned home and he was laid to rest on the 22nd July 1941 in Section U, Grave no. 10057 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place. Inscribed at the base of the stone are the words: AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN/ AND IN THE MORNING / I WILL REMEMBER / LOVE, MOTHER.

There must have been a close bond between Robert and his grandmother. As well as placing the following death announcement in the Sunderland Echo 21/07/1941, she is also named as his next of kin in the CWGC records:

"Roll of Honour
At a Military Hospital, on July 15, Robert the dearly loved grandson of Margaret Smith, cortege to leave 15 Suddick Street on Tuesday. Deeply mourned."

It was only four years later that Robert’s mother Florence passed away in the Municipal Hospital aged 44 years. She was also laid to rest in Section U Grave no 9767 of Southwick Cemetery on the 28th May 1945.

His grandmother Margaret Alice lived till the age of 85. She passed away in Sunderland General Hospital in late December 1954 and on the 23rd December 1954 she was laid to rest in Section S Grave no 8607 of Southwick Cemetery.

Robert Loughton is not remembered on any local war memorial.

The CWGC entry for Sapper Loughton