Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Born on 7th June 1891, the son of Gateshead parents Thomas and Mary Jane (nee Wood) Winlow, at the turn of the century the family consisting of Emily, John, Mary, Elona, Violet and Thomas moved north to Bedlington. By 1911 and living in North Choppington Robert had followed his father down the pit and become a coal miner, but two years later just after his birthday in June 1913 Robert was in Glasgow embarking for Canada on board the SS Hesperian. He was making for Regina, Saskatchewan with the intention of finding work as a miner, but the 1916 census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta shows that he had found lodgings with Eli Parish and his family in Regina and was working as an insurance clerk.
He may have been listed on the 1916 census but Robert had in fact enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 5th August 1915 and as Private 427478 of the 46th Battalion had arrived at Devonport on board the SS Lapland two months later. After initial training in England he made out his paybook will stating that all his money be divided equally between his mother, his sister Mary and his ex-landlord Eli Parish. In June he was transferred to the 13th Battalion and sent as part of a reinforcing draft to join his new unit after the Canadian lines had been obliterated by the Germans at Mount Sorrel / Sanctuary Wood earlier in the month.
In August Private Winlow was sentenced to 28 days' punishment for drunkenness and overstaying his pass, and then in November the Battalion moved to the vicinity of Vimy Ridge. It was here that Robert Winlow was reported as missing believed killed in the trenches on 1st December 1916.
Morpeth Herald 12/01/1917 carries a brief obituary:
Mr [Thomas] and Mrs [Mary Jane] Winlow, of Choppington, have received official news from the War Office that their son, Robert, of the R.H.C. (Canadians), has been missing, believed killed, since 1st December.
Robert Stanley Winlow is remembered in Choppington on C36.01 and C36.04
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 Private Winlow
