Military History

Robert is listed as being killed in action whilst trying to save a fellow officer on 21st December 1914, having originally been reported as missing. The 7th Dragoon Guards war diary entry for the 21st December is transcribed below.

Festubert - 21 Dec 1914 – 1am: Counter attack commenced. Both lines reached the support trenches, 47^th Sikhs occupied an old Communication trench on left. A heavy fire was opened by enemy on left flank. Colonel Lempiere [Lt. Col Henry Anderson Lempiere], who had gone forward with the Adjutant to try and locate the trenches was shot as he returned to 47^th Sikhs position.

2am: Colonel [Orlando George] Gunning, 47^th Sikhs took command. Enemy could enfilade both flanks with M.G. fire & it was impossible to advance owing to fire of our own artillery on fire trenches. Col Gunning gave the order to return to Festubert.

3.45am: Detachment reformed at Festubert

3.50am: Major Sparrow reported to Gen McBean? at Festubert who ordered the Regiment to be formed up on the road N of Right Section HQ for the second attack under Col Grant.

4.30am: The attack was to be carried out in 2 lines – 1^st line ½ 2/8 Gurkhas, 47^th Sikhs – 2^nd line ½ 2/8 Gurkhas, 3 Squadrons of 7^th DG. Touch to be kept by left, which was on communications trench. Party of bomb throwers of H.L.I. were frequently in the way between the 2 lines and made it difficult to see the 1^st line. Apparently at first the line brought up its right should too much, then its left shoulders.

On reaching the Support trench some unit, believed to be the Gurkhas charged, all then charged the fire trenches & units got very badly mixed. German machine guns were firing from both flanks during the advance. During the advance D Squadron under Capt Mansel got detached & attempted to charge the machine guns on the left, apparently by Col Grants orders, & lost severely in doing so.

Shortly after Major Edwards 2/8 Gurkhas reported to Major Dyer, the senior officer present as Col Grant could not be found, that 500x [yards] of trench on his left was unoccupied, 2 Gurkhas had been drowned in the trench and that it was untenable owing to machine gun fire on both flanks & the trench being full of water.

Major Dyer wrote a message to Gen McBean? reporting situation. Shortly afterwards Major Edwards again reported his position untenable. Major Dyer then ordered a retirement on Festubert. On reaching Festubert Gen McBean ordered 7 DG to retire to 2^nd line of trenches, 2 miles back, & it transpired that Col Grant had ordered retirement of the whole force from the trenches.