Ploegsteert Memorial
Ploegsteert Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert William Mark Jnr was born during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1898 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, the eldest of 2 surviving sons and a daughter, 1 child deceased gender unknown. His father Robert William Mark Snr, born October 26th 1863 at Ashkirk, Roxburghshire, Scotland married in 1909 at Morpeth, Northumberland, Eleanor Robinson born 1868, native of Backworth. They moved to Newcastle settling at 167, Hotspurr Street, Heaton, where his father was employed as a police constable, they had moved to 37, Grosvenor Gardens, Jesmond, by 1911.
On the outbreak of war the family were living in Gateshead, Robert William was aged 16, too young to enlist, however once he was 18 years and 1 month old he was conscripted. Enlisted at Gateshead he was assigned as Private 33539 to the 13th (Service) Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment. Having undergone training and now being of age, which was 19 years, to serve overseas as of April. May or June 1917 he was drafted to the Western Front to join his regiment in the field either during or just after the Third Battle of the Scarpe and the capture of Oppy Wood in 1917. In 1918 they participated at the Battle of St. Quentin, the Battle of Bapaume, the First Battle of Arras and were then moved north to Belgium where they took part in the Battle of Estaires and the Battle of Lys during April 1918.
The now Corporal 33539 Robert William Mark is assumed to have died April 12th 1918, his sacrifice is recorded as one of more than 11,000 names of servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa inscribed on the Ploegsteert Memorial, near Ieper in Belgium which commemorates those who fell in the sector of Caestre-Dranoultre-Warneton to the north and Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes to the south and who have no known grave.
His father received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert William Mark is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
