Janet Rice has submitted the following:
Robert was born in Bedlington in 1888, one of eight children of John, a woodman, and Hannah. In 1911 Robert lived with his widowed mother at Wooperton where he was a carter at the corn mill. Prior to joining up, Robert had moved and was employed by the Ashington Coal Co. All three sons of Hannah enlisted, John Thomas, Robert and James. Robert and James were the first to go, enlisting in November 1914. Following training, Robert went to France in January 1916.
On 1 July 1916 Commonwealth troops supported by the French launched an attack which marked the beginning of the Battle of the Somme. Despite heavy bombardment, German trenches were virtually untouched and the results of the action were catastrophic. Robert was killed on the first day and his body never recovered. His name appears on the Thiepval Memorial along with 72, 000 others whose bodies were never found.
He is remembered in Eglingham on E18.01 and in Powburn on P39.01