Photo : Mary Canning with thanks
Medal Index Card
Sunderland Echo Wednesday 14/10/1914
Sunderland Echo Wednesday 13/11/1914
Sunderland Echo Saturday 16/11/1914
Robert Sandilands was born July? 1884 at 21 Monkton Road, Jarrow to James Sandilands, [born Edinburgh 1850], a Caulker, and his wife Anne, or Annie, [nee Murray], born 1851, Scotland, daughter of a Hugh Murray, born 1811, and Margaret Murray, born 1820.
James Sandilands was one of ten children.
Robert's parents were married on the 22nd June 1870 at Jarrow. In 1871 they were residing at 35 South Street Row, Jarrow, they had ten children of which seven lived and three died. Matthew, born July 1874 died 1951, Charles, born June 1878, Thomas born 17th June 1872, Robert born 1884, Margaret, born 1887 at Hebburn, George, born Wallsend 1889, Wiliam, born October 1891, died 1902, John born 1872, and Ann born 1876 but died in 1903. In 1891 they were residing at 13 Havelock Place Sunderland.
In 1901 the family had moved to 26 Spring Garden Lane, Sunderland, next door to his wife to be, Margaret Ellen McCracken.
Robert was a Labourer at the Sunderland Shipbuilding Company Shipyard. He enlisted on the 17th September 1902 as soon as he was 18 years and 3 months old, at Sunderland. Robert signed on for 12 years, 3 years with the colours and 9 years in the Reserve. His service number was 7990 and he was in the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
When he enlisted he was 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighed 108 lbs, dark complexion, with light brown eyes and dark brown hair. He had two tattoos a pierced heart on his left forearm, and the initials B.S.J. on his right forearm. He also had a birthmark on his left buttock. His trade was described as a Labourer.
On the 8th September 1903 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, and after completing his 3 years with the colours, he was discharged and placed into the Reserves from the 16th September 1905.
Whilst in the reserves he had to take part in Army Reserve Training and on the 25th June 1907, [the new Lee Enfield 303 rifle had been introduced in to the British Army in the previous year 1906], he attained a score of 82 on his shooting Skills. Then at Whitley Bay attending 'Instruction for the Training of the Army Reserve', Infantry he received a certificate for musketry training attaining a score of 76 on the 28th July 1908.
In 1902 the 2nd Battalion were posted to Aldershot. The following year at Ripon then Cork in Southern Ireland.
Whilst at Aldershot, Robert was absent from the Military Tattoo for two days, from the 14th December 1903 to the 16th December 1903, he is forfeited three days, on the 7th January 1903 he was drunk and causing a disturbance in his platoon hut at about 9.45 pm, 3 days confined to Barracks, then on the 26th May 1904 he was guilty of making an improper remark to an N.C.O. [a Sergeant Clarke], he was confined to Barracks for 10 days.
11th August 1903 he was smoking in the ranks, confined 3 days in the barracks. Then on the 6th September 1903, whilst still at Aldershot, he was found urinating in the washroom, another 7 days confined to Barracks, 24th September 1903 he was found drunk in his room at 9.30pm. confined to Barracks 3 days. Then into 1904 still at Aldershot he was found drunk returning to his barracks on the 24th July, 10.20 pm, confined to barracks for 5 days, then 2nd August found to be absent from about 11.15pm until found in his bed on the 3rd August, confined 5 days in the Barracks. Robert was absent from signalling parade at 8pm, another 5 days confined to barracks, 19th May using insubordinate language to an N.C.O., and on the 1st July now 1905, being absent from the tattoo and being found drunk at 10.15pm. On the 1st August 1905 at Aldershot he was found drunk in the barracks, and being absent from 5.30pm. He was fined 7/6 and confined to Barracks for three days.
On the 1st April 1907, at St Patrick's Church, Sunderland, he married Margaret Ellen McCraken, born 16th October 1883, baptised 28th October 1883 at St Mary's, Sunderland. [Daughter of John James McCraken and Margaret Ellen McGahan, [In the 1939 Register Margaret states her birthday as the 7th October]. They had four children Margaret Ellen born 11th April 1908, James Chalmers, born March 1911 died October 1911, Charles born 4th August 1914, the same day that England declared War on Germany, [died in 1996], and Susannah born 5th October 1912, died August 1991.
In 1911 Robert was residing at 1 Phoenix Square, Sunderland, with his wife and children, he is now a shipyard plater still at the Sunderland Shipbuilding Company. His father was residing at 129 Hendon Road, Sunderland. His sister-in-law Susannah McCracken was also residing at 1 Phoenix Square, Sunderland.
Robert now a Reservist was mobilised on the 5th August 1914 when he received his Railway Warrant and travelled to Fenham Barracks, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. [The mobilisation order came by Telegram on the 4th August for the Battalion to Mobilise at 18.00 hours]. Robert was posted as a private on the 6th August into 'B' Company, 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
Robert was sent to Dunfermline with Battalion Headquarters, 'A' and 'B' company, on the 7th August. On the 11th August he was located at Pittengrief in camp. The 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry were part of the 18th Brigade, one of the brigades of the 6th Infantry Division. On the 13th August the Battalion arrived at Jesus Common, Cambridge where the Brigade was forming up.
On the 8th September the 2nd Battalion Durham Light infantry marched out of Cambridge to go to Newmarket to board with the two trains provided for them. The first train carried Roberts Company 'B' commanded by Major D'Arcy Mander to Southampton where Robert embarked and travelled on the City of Benares ship number 114004, arriving at St Nazaire on the 8th September 1914 at about 6pm.
On the 16th September, the battalion was about 5 miles behind the front lines being held in Reserve. On the 19th September the battalion was in the Front line. They were located in the trenches north of the town of Troyon, relieving the 2nd Brigade units in the line. This was the battalion's first day of shelling as they moved from Bourg to a nearby hill. They arrived at the trenches north of Troyon, at night the East Yorkshires on the battalions left and the West Yorkshire on the right.
On the 21st of September the Germans [VII Reserve Corps], launched an attack and the Moroccans on the battalion's right flank came under a heavy attack and were forced back. One company of the 1/West Yorshire Regiment, moved to cover this exposed flank. The Moroccans who by this time had rallied moved forward to their original positions not knowing that the West Yorkshires had occupied them, resulting in a 'friendly Fire' incident in which about thirty casualties were suffered. Another attack was launched around 10.00 am by the Germans but were checked by the British stubborn defence. At around 12.00 noon another attack this time against the Moroccans who again fell back, the West Yorks moved eastwards to protect the flank again.
Before the requested reinforcements arrived the Germans had occupied the Moroccan trenches working their way down the front line capturing men of the two front line companies. This action resulted in the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry to a withering enfilade [flank], fire.
The companies were receiving heavy fire from the right flank as from the Durham's position it looked like the West Yorks had been captured. In the local press at the time it was also reported that when the West Yorkshires fell back the Germans under a white flag of surrender then opened fire with machine guns. The companies were from left to right 'B' company commanded by Major D'Arcy Mander who was killed on the 20th September, 'A' Company commanded by Major William Northey who was wounded on the 20th but died later of his wounds at Boulogne, 'C' Company commanded by Major Edward Blake, killed on the 20th September and 'D' Company commanded by Major Alexander Robb, was wounded and brought in by 8757 Private Jackie Warwick, from Darlington, later died of his wounds. As the attack developed, the Companies advanced and retook the trenches.
The reinforcements arrived and stabilised the Front Line. They were then ordered to counter attack and remove the Germans from entrenched positions on a side of a hill. The men lost heavily.
Source : The Steel of the DLI John Sheen, Pen and Sword Ltd ISBN 9781848841437 2009 page 42 to 48.
Robert Sandilands had completed 12 years 5 days Army Service when he was killed on the 21st September 1914.
Robert's widow was awarded a pension of 20s and 6d a week for her and three children which commenced on the 12th April 1915. However, the fellow workmen at Sunderland shipbuilding Company had a subscription for two workers who worked at the Company James Watson and Robert Sandilands. They were able to give £19 5s to each of the widows of the two men.
Source : Sunderland Echo, Wednesday 13/11/1914.
On the 16/11/1914 Mrs Sandilands responded with an acknowledgment in the Sunderland Echo thanking all friends and workmen for their sympathy shown to her during her recent bereavement.
During the war, Mrs Sandilands have moved to 13 Bodlewell Lane, Sunderland. Some of Roberts brothers were residing at New Grey Street, Southwick also at Sunderland.
George was at Colchester.
Margaret received his medals the 1914 Star, Victory Medal and the War Medal, on the 8th May 1919.
In 1939 Margaret Ellen, still widowed was residing at 10 Whickham Street, Sunderland, Durham, with her son Charles Sandilands who was a Platers Helper Shipyard Heavy Worker. Also in the same house was Charles's sister Susanna, who had married a James Edward Morgan on the 26th December 1939, [born Monkwearmouth, 28th December 1908, died March 1982], they had five children, she was a Hemp Spinner.
Margaret Ellen McCraken died on the 1st January 1969.
Robert Sandilands is remembered at Sunderland in S140.048 part 2, page 12 and at Durham in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 256.
