In Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of WR/259810 Sapper Robert Bulmer Chatt, serving with the 32nd Light Railway Operating Company Royal Engineers who died 11/11/1918.
The son of Margaret Ann Chatt, of Startforth, Yorks, and the late Joseph Henry Chatt and the husband of Ida Chatt, of 11, Coronation Street, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham.
The Teesdale Mercury 27/11/1918 reports:
Mrs. R. Chatt, of Coronation Street, has received a letter from the Garrison chaplain, Arras, stating that her husband, Sapper Robert B. Chatt, had been accidentally killed. All ranks speak of deceased in the highest terms of praise. He was a locomotive driver, and the engine he was controlling ran off the line into trees, and he was killed instantly. He did not suffer great pain. Sapper Chatt was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Chatt, of Startforth, and enlisted into the Northumberland Fusiliers shortly after the outbreak of war, and went through the Gallipoli campaign, taking part in the Suvla Bay landing. Coming to France after the evacuation of the peninsular, he transferred in the Royal Engineers, and met his death at the hour the armistice came into operation.
The following appeared in the Births, Marriages and Deaths column:
Chatt Accidentally killed at Arras, France, on November 11th 1918, in the 24th year of his age, Sapper Robert Bulmer Chatt, beloved husband of Ida Chatt, 11 Coronation Street, Barnard Castle, and only son of Joseph H. and Margaret Ann Chatt, Startforth. “They miss him most who loved him best.” Memorial service in Startforth Parish Church on Sunday, December 1st at 10.30 a.m.
Acknowledgements: Catherine Ryan
Robert Bulman Chatt is remembered at Barnard Castle School on B135.04 and B135.20, at Startforth on S150.01 and on the North Eastern Railway War Memorial (York).