Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has provided the following:

Robert’s birth was registered in June 1894 in Sunderland, the eldest of the surviving children of John and Agnes Craig (nee Waldie). Though both parents were from Scotland - John from Glasgow and Agnes from Edinburgh- they married in Sunderland in March 1890.

The 1911 census shows that John and Agnes had eight children of which three died. I have been unable to confirm the name of one of the children.

Jane Annie, born September 1895, died September 1896 and laid to rest in Sunderland Cemetery; Mary, born December 1898; John, born December 1902 , died November 1905 and laid to rest in Sunderland Cemetery; William Greener born March 1904; Alice Pinder born September 1905; John Henry born December 1909.

All of the above children’s births were registered in Sunderland.

In 1901 the family were residing at 27 Commercial Road in the civic parish of Sunderland. John was employed in one of the local collieries as a Colliery Fireman; Agnes was at home with the two children Robert & Mary. Also living with the family was 23 year old Robert Craig, who was John’s brother, and possibly whom young Robert was named after.

By 1911 John, Agnes and their five children have moved to the village of Ryhope in County Durham and were residing in two rooms at 4 Alice Street. Even with so little room they had taken in a boarder, Thomas Nixon, a 30 year old coal miner from North Shields. John was still employed in the mining industry no longer as a fireman, but now as a hewer who extracts the coal at the coalface. Robert, now aged 17, has followed his father into the coal mines and may have been possibly working at the same colliery being employed as a coal putter (pushing the tubs of coal from the coal face to the surface).

With the outbreak of war Robert enlisted into the 14th D.L.I. The date was 7th September 1914 and his service number was 14410. His surviving service records give a brief description of Robert. His height was 5 feet 4 inches, he weighed 128 lbs, and he had grey eyes, brown hair with a fresh complexion. He also gave his religion as Christian Mission.

Two weeks after enlisting Robert’s Battalion, having been joined by other Battalions to form the 64th Brigade of the 21st Division, made its way to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire for training, then on to Halton Park, where their training continued. At the beginning of December the battalion then went to High Wycombe and in April 1915 they returned to Halton Park. This training, which took place in the Cheviot Hills, carried on to 21st July 1915. The Battalion was ordered to march to Witley a distance of 75 miles which they completed in five days. Leaving Folkestone on the 11th September 1915 they came ashore at Boulogne, France where they made their way to St. Omer to prepare to go into the line. On 25th September 1915 Robert experienced the horrors of war when the Battalion was moved into reserve trenches on the Loos battlefield. Terrible casualties were recorded during this time. By the end of November 1915 the 14th were defending Potijze and again casualty rates were high. They remained around the Ypres Salient up until mid March 1916. It was here that Robert was wounded - on 6th March 1916 he received a gunshot wounds to the right foot and the left knee. By 11th of March Robert was back in England receiving treatment in hospital for his wounds. He remained in hospital until 18th May 1916.

On 29th January 1917, at Sunderland Register Office, Robert married Isabella Tatters, but sadly it would only be a short marriage.

After a time recuperating and because of his injuries on 1st August 1917, he was transferred to the Labour Corps, with a new service number of 355381.

By 7th October 1918 Robert was back in hospital which resulted in him having the third toe on his right foot amputated. The medical report states: “He walks lame, but has no disability in his left leg.” On 11th October 1918 Robert was transferred to Army Reserve Class P, and it was only eleven days later that he passed away at the family home at 21 Shepherd Terrace, Castletown, Co. Durham.

Robert was laid to rest on 26th October 1918 in Section 3, Grave no. 10343 of Southwick Cemetery.

There were no children found from Robert and Isabella’s marriage.

In June 1927 in Sunderland there was a marriage for a Joseph Tweddle and Isabella Craig, this could well be Robert’s widow remarrying.

Robert Craig is listed in Peter Gibson's Book

The CWGC entry for Private Craig