Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery,

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

Born on 6th April 1881 to blacksmith George Booth and his wife Barbara (nee Gibb), Robert was one of five siblings with George, Barbara, John and Richard all older than himself. Their mother Barbara died in 1890 leaving the children living with their father in William Street, West Hartlepool. He married Jane Anne Carter in 1893 adding four half siblings to the family.

On 28th March 1900 Robert joined the Royal Navy as a stoker, signing on for 12 years and serving mainly on the Pembroke, but also for short periods on the Royal Oak and Shearwater, which he left on 7th March 1907.

At the time of the 1911 Canadian census Robert (then known as Robert Watson) was living and working as a blacksmith in British Columbia, Canada. When he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 19th April 1916 at New Westminster BC, he used his alias, gave incorrect birth details and named only a friend, Charles Thulin, as his next of kin, he also claimed to have no previous military service.

Nevertheless, he became Private 761221 with the 121st Battalion and four months later sailed across the Atlantic aboard SS Empress of Britain and a posting to Bramshott Camp, Hampshire. At the end of 1916 he was posted to the 102nd Battalion, part of the 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division and joined them in France at Camblain L’Abbe about eight miles north west of Arras.

On 9th April 1917 Private Watson was killed near Hill 145, also known as the Pimple, during the fighting at Vimy Ridge. His real name was not discovered until after his death/

Robert Booth is remembered in the Hartlepools in H115.30 and W111.86

In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
The CWGC entry for Able Seaman Booth
The CWGC entry for Private Watson