Photo : Deniece Oselton

Medal Index card

Photo : Deniece Oselton

Photo : Deniece Oselton

Menin Gate Memorial

Robert Potts junior was born on the 28th April 1894 at 8 Grace Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the eldest boy of seven children to Robert Potts [Senior], born 1850, Flat Engine, Houghton-le-Spring, died in September 1918, at 6 George Street Back, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, brass moulder, probably working for the Armstrong Works in Elswick, [eldest son of William, born 1815 and Elizabeth Potts, born 1816], and Mary Ann, born 1870, who were married in 1895, the other six children were William Edward Potts, born 11th August 1895, [baptised on the 5th September 1895, died 1981], Algernon Potts born 12th July 1897, [baptised on the 12th August 1897, died 1975], Thomas Potts, born 15th March 1899, baptised 5th April 1899, educated at Blenheim Street school from 1902, [enlisted into the 2nd Battalion, Green Howards, Yorkshire Regiment], service nu 4383248, Private], Elizabeth Humble Adam Potts, born 6th September 1904, died 21st December 1996, [she married an Arthur Bosworth on the 27th September 1930, in 1939 she was living with her widowed mother Mary Ann Potts, and her brother William Edward Potts, and one other, residing at 69 Woodstock Lane, Newcastle-upon-Tyne], Norman Potts, born 8th July 1907, [Sand Blaster, married a Alice Potts, on the 20th September 1930, born 14th August 1902, died 21st December 1978, in 1939 they were residing at 74 Mary Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne], he died 1st February 1968, and George H. Potts, born 19th September 1910, died 1953, who got married at Hexham.

Robert Potts [junior], with the rest of his family in 1911 were residing at 6 George Street Back, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, [which was a 2 room tenament block], Robert Potts [Senior] was unemployed, Robert was a News boy selling newspapers, William Edward was an apprentice engineer and Turner, the daughter and Thomas were still at school.

Before Robert Potts, [Senior] settled down he had a few addresses, in 1881, he is residing at 24 Hill Street, Westgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, which was a Public House, [Duke of Cambridge?], being run by his brother in law Thomas Humble, [born 1838 at New Shildon], and his wife Margaret Humble, [born 1841 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne], with their five children, George Humble, born 1867, Thomas Humble, born 1870, William Robert Humble, born 1876, [he became a Fruit Merchant], Robert Humble, born 1878 and Sarah Humble born 1872, all at 24 Hill Street, Westgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1871, he is at 13 Spring Gardens Terrace, and in 1911 was residing at 6 George Street Back, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Robert Potts senior was buried at Elswick Cemetery on the 10th September 1918, he was an all round Sportsman, and was a landlord of the Duke of Cumberland, at the The Close, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He had some very good greyhounds in the last two decades of the last [19th] century. Robert was also keen on walking, rowing, boxing, trotting, cycling, and horse racing.

Robert Potts junior, attested at Fenham Barracks on the 28th October 1913, he was 19 years and 6 months old.

He enlisted on the 1st November 1913, with the service number 11656, and was posted to the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry for training, with the rank of private.

The Recruiting Officer had sent Army Form B 64. to the Westgate Road, Police Station for a reference from the Chief Constable. He was 5 feet 6 7/8ths of an inch high, described with a Dark complexion, Brown Eyes and Dark Brown Hair, large scar at the side of his neck and right shoulder blade. The questions asked where how long have you personally known him? For at least 7 years. When did you see him last to speak to? 28th October 1913.

Robert had a Medical examination on the 31st October and was pronounced fit.

After training he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 21st February 1914. Whilst training at Lichfield, [the Battalion moved there in September 1913, by June 1914 the battalion was in Wales], he was confined to Barracks for two days for not shaving for Gymnastics on the 30th April 1914. Captain F. G. Maughan administered the punishment. [Captain Maughan went on to be a Staff Captain of the 18th Infantry Brigade, then Brigadier Major on the 14th July 1915, then employed by the War Office October 1915 as a Lieutenant Colonel D.S.O.]

On the 13th August the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry arrived at Cambridge with the other Battalions within the 18th Brigade, were concentrating to be in the 6th Division. On the 8th September the Battalion marched to Newmarket to entrain on two trains to take them to Southampton.

The battalion where embarked on the City of Benaras Ship number 114004, [a 6,984-gross ton liner of the Ellerman Line. Scrapped, February 1933], and the Bellarophon?, at about 11am, prior to sailing for St Nazaire at 12 noon.

Arrived about 6pm and went on to a rest camp.

Robert was reported missing on the 9th August 1915.

On August 5th the Battalion were resting and getting re-organised and started to move back into the firing line. They took over from the 14th Light Division in the support lines near Hooge.

To the North of Hooge 49th Division and the French to their left started to make preparations for an attack to deceive the Germans were the actual attack was going to be delivered.

The 2nd Sherwood Foresters were to work along the trench G1, G2, G3. to protect the flank from an attack from that direction. The plan was to establish a line continuing trench G3, across the Menin Road, north of the houses to the Crater. 2nd Durham Light Infantry were selected to lead the attack. 'D' Company on the left and 'C' Company on the right.

At half past two we were led into a Wood and got orders to lie down, and the hell opened. Our artillery opened fire and they replied, it was simply awful, but we lay there waiting for the order to charge. It came and we lost all control or our senses and went like mad, fighting hand to hand bayoneting the hounds. I did not like to kill, but it was sport like so I did it and wanted more. We got in to the first line and went straight on to the fourth and past it and then dug ourselves in under hells flames.

Source : The Steel of DLI John Sheen. 2009 Page 107. ISBN 9781848841437. Letter from an unnamed private. (D/DLI 2/2/47(1)).

In 1921, Mary Ann Potts and her boys Algernon, William Edward, and Thomas were still residing at 5 George Street back, with a married couple called Emily and James Gilroy. They all moved, [less the Gilroys and Thomas Potts], to 69 Woodstock Lane, in about 1938, just before the Second World War.

Thomas Potts moved from George Street in about 1929, also William Edward is no longer residing at this address. Algernon Potts is showing up in the Absent Voters List for 1920 and 1923 and 1929 as being 56650, Private, 1050th Company, R.A.S.C., also as M33639, Private, 12th M.T. Company, R.A.S.C., Woolwich, and M33639, Private, R.A.S.C., Algernon Potts was in the Royal Navy, he enlisted on the 9th July 1918], Thomas Potts in 1923 [Absent Voters List], is shown as 4383248, Private, 2nd Battalion Green Howards. Dover, who was discharged after the end of WW1.

In 1974 Algernon Potts and William Edward Potts were residing still at 69 Woodstock Road.

All photos courtesy of Deniece with thanks.

Robert Potts is remembered at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on NUT180 and at Durham in D47.013c page 209.

Hooge Crater Museum
Hooge WW1 Battlefield
The CWGC entry for Private Potts