In Victoria (Ross Bay) Cemetery, Canada is the Commonwealth War Grave of 706078 Sergeant Robert Atkinson Huggup, serving with the 103rd Battalion Canadian Infantry who died 17/02/1916.

Robert Atkinson Huggup was born on the 4th July 1881, [baptised 26th September 1881], at Low Hedgley Farm, Eglingham, Northumberland, the eldest son of seven children to Robert Huggup, born 1845, died 5th September 1931, and his wife Laura nee Atkinson, born 1850, died at Warkworth, 2nd January 1914. of 33 Wingrove Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. They were married in 1871.
The other children were
Helen ‘Ellen’ Mary Huggup, born 4th September 1874, baptised 23rd October 1874, died 18th June 1968, [in 1939, she was residing at the County Hotel, Rothbury, employed as a House Keeper},
Laura Atkinson Huggup, born 18th September 1872, baptised 17th October 1872, [she married Edward Fitzgerald Trevor, (born 24th June 1863, died 4th February 1939), on the 18th September 1903, at St Georges Church, Newcastle upon Tyne],
James Atkinson Huggup, born 1876, baptised 5th July 1876, died 18th July 1905, at the Royal Albert Asylum, Lancaster, Lancashire,
Emily Huggup, born January 1878, at 33 Queens Road, North Shields, married Thomas Stabler in 1912,
Winifred Amy Huggup, born 20th November 1883, baptised 18th December 1883, died in June 1975, [married on the 19th November 1919, at Mian Wali, Bengal, India, to Leonard Mortimer Baines, born 1878 died 1969]
and Ralph Huggup, born 29th August 1887, Alnwick, Northumberland, baptised 5th October 1887 at Eglingham, Northumberland, England, died 26th February 1960, he left the UK on the 2nd February 1912 on the SS Otranto, ship number 124675, for Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He married on the 17th July 1913, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Ethel J Wilkin, born 1882, died 1932. He remarried in 1936 at Merewether, New South Wales, Australia, Margaret Mary O’ Sullivan, born 1887, died 1940.

In 1871, the father Robert Huggup was visiting his girlfriend at the time, Laura Atkinson who was residing at 19 North Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, she was the daughter of James and Martha Atkinson. Robert Huggup had farmed Low Hedgerley farm, Eglingham and Shield Dyke Farm, Longframlington for many years. He also served as a Major in the 2nd Battalion Northumberland Artillery Volunteers. In 1905 he gave up the tenancy to a Mr Robson, in which a court case was involved between the two tenants about away going crops. Robert Huggup now resided at 33 Wingrove Road, Newcastle upon Tyne as a Land Valuer and agent. Residing with him was his son Ralph Huggup and eldest daughter Helen Mary and his wife Laura. In 1901 his grandmother Martha, born 1818, was residing with him at the Farm. He was also Chairman of the Bee-Keepers Association at Wooler.

Robert Atkinson Huggup was educated at Barnard Castle School, residing at Glanton, then trained to be an Architect with Mr George Reavell A.R.I.B.A., of Alnwick, [Reavell and Cahill who designed the Ellingham war memorial E20.03], and he passed his intermediate examinations in July 1902 for the Society of Architects. In 1902 he transferred from the 2nd Northumberland (Percy) Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers to the 1st Durham R.G.A.V., Sunderland due to the disbandment of the Corps. He was first commissioned in January 1900, then was promoted in October 1900. On the 18th November 1903, he attended Burt Terrace Drill Hall, at Gateshead for the annual presentation of prizes to the Headquarter companies of the 5th V.B.D.L.I.

Robert emigrated to Canada. on the 28th December 1906, as Robert Huggup, age 25, from Liverpool outward-bound on the SS Empress of Britain, ship number 120940, 3rd class, arriving at St. John, New Brunswick on the 5th January 1907.  He had $700 in his possession on arrival, and his profession is listed incorrectly as a Mechanic, the 1901 Census records it as an Architect. He travelled to Idaho in America, before he settled down in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, taking up employment as an Architect.

CWGC records reveal Huggup served as an Atkinson.  When war broke out Huggup conducted physical training classes and arrived in Victoria to join the 50th Gordon Highlanders, Canada. He was also a member of the Vancouver Athletic Club from 1912. Robert enlisted on the 29th August 1915, 5 feet 11 inches, 162lb, fair complexion, blue eyes with fair hair, service number 706078, into the 50th Gordon Highlanders. Promoted Corporal on the 23rd September 1915. Transferred to the 2nd Company, 103rd Battalion on the 22nd November 1915 when that unit was organised.

The role of this unit was to raise and train recruits for the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  Under the mobilisation scheme in place the 103rd was not required to go overseas as a unit of its own. He was an acting Corporal from the 30th November, then promoted a Provisional Sergeant from the 1st December 1915. Robert contracted Pneumonia over several days during a very cold spell while clearing the streets of snow with other members of the battalion.  He was taken to hospital on the 13th February 1916, from the New Drill Hall, where he was located, to St Josephs Hospital at Vancouver. Robert reported sick on the 12th February 1916, he was examined by the 103rd Battalion, Medical Officer, who found Robert was suffering from Influenza and Bronchitis. Apparently Robert was ill for a few days before he reported sick. On the day he was admitted he got worse and was diagnosed with double pneumonia. Robert died of Heart Failure and pneumonia.

The Newcastle Journal 18/03/1916 reports:
Huggup-Atkinson—At St. Joseph’s Hospital, Victoria, B.C. (suddenly), of pneumonia, on February 16th, 1916. aged 35 years. Sergeant Robert Huggup-Atkinson. 103 Battalion Vancouver Timber Wolves, eldest son of Robert Huggup, Warkworth, and formerly of Low Hedgeley, Northumberland.

and

Obituary Sergt. Huggup- Atkinson. The Victoria Journal, British Columbia, dated February 18. contains reference the death Sergeant R. Huggup-Atkinson, Physical Instructor to 103rd Battalion. “He will,” it is stated, “be missed both officers and men, for, since the organisation of the unit, he had made himself popular with everyone. His place will hard to fill. He contracted pneumonia several days ago. during the cold spell, when he was working in the streets with other members of the battalion in clearing away the snow. Only a few days after being conveyed hospital he succumbed.

The late Sergeant Huggup-Atkinson was born in the county of Northumberland. England, and came Canada some years ago. Before he came to British Columbia, he was, for time, in Idaho, subsequently removing to Vancouver, where carried on the business of an architect. When war broke out he conducted physical training classes, and came to Victoria to join the Gordon Highlanders, and transferred to the 103rd Battalion when the unit was organised.” Sergeant Huggup-Atkinson formerly held a commission as lieutenant the 2nd Northumberland Artillery Volunteers, and was the eldest son of Major R. Huggup, V.D., the same corps, Warkworth.

Acknowledgments David Thompson.

Robert Atkinson Huggup is remembered at Alnwick in A11.56, at Barnard Castle School on B135.04 and B135.20 at Warkworth on W16.01 and W16.03, and in the Canadian Book of Remembrance page 48.