|
Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals | Thiepval Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 4 Oct 1914 in Zeebruge | Military Medal Gazetted on 29 Jul 1917 | Brinklow |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Guillemont (Somme) | 1909/10 at Rugby | ~ |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| NW of Guillemont | ~ | |
Enlistment & Military Medal
Robert's service number indicates that he enlisted in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment at some stage between 13th December 1909 and 8th June 1910.
Robert was amongst a group of men who were Posthumously awarded the Military Medal, which were awarded for Bravery in the Field, in Robert's case 10 months after he was killed.
Circumstances of Death
|
Robert is listed as being killed in action on 3 Sep 1916 during the Battle of Guillemont, the Battalion war diary for that day is transcribed below. War Diary 3 Sep 1916In the Field - 3rd: At 7am on the 3rd A&B Coy moved up from Montauban Alley and took up their assembly positions with C&D Coys in Folly Trench. Bn HQ was moved forward from here and took up their position 150yds W of Waterlot Farm where they remained for the rest of the operations. While in assembly positions we suffered casualties from enemy's shell fire Killed 1 OR, Wounded 8 OR.
At the zero hour which was 12 noon the companies passed ? advancing very steadily in artillery formation towards their objective. The order of the Coys was A on the right, then B & C, D coy which was on the left hand to form a defensive flank facing N along Ale Alley. At 1.40pm a runner in from OC D Coy saying that he was held up by Machine Guns in Hop & Ale Alleys and was diggin in in front of them.
At 1.43pm a runner arrive from Lt D.W. Arnott who was now commanding B Coy, Capt Wasey having been wounded, stating that he had reached the objective and was digging in. The objectives of A, B & C Coys was the Blue Line which they had to consolidate it was on running through the W end of Ginchy. All companies reached their objectives & dug in. A&B Coys in touch but we got no news from C. Coy. The 20th Manchester Regt were reported to be through the village.
At 4.21pm we got a verbal message that the troops were leaving the village when this was found to be true and the heavy casualties we had suffered were known it was decided to relieve the Brigade.
At 11pm HQ was moved to Folly Trench and later back to Pommiers Redoubt and few men came in but the majority of them were still holding their original objective in Ginchy.
One detached group of C&D Coys under Capt H.P. Williams Freeman and 2/Lt R.E Willis hung on for 36 hours? after the Bde was relieved. Another detached group of A Coys under Lt J. S. Harrowin and 2/Lt H. Sulman hung on in the S end of Ginchy for 3 days after the Brigade had been relieved being unable to get any communication. This was of great value to the position of the troops in Guillemont.
The casualites during the period were rather heavy (320):
Officers (all named): 2 Killed, 1 died of wounds, 6 wounded and 2 missing believed wounded. Other Ranks: 26 killed, 7 died of wounds, 197 wounded and 90 missing. END Battle of GuillemontThe Battle of Guillemont - 3rd to 6th September 1916 was an attack on the village which was captured by the Fourth Army on the first day. Guillemont was on the right flank of the British sector, near the boundary with the French Sixth Army. German defences ringed the British salient at Delville Wood to the north and had observation over the French Sixth Army area to the south towards the Somme river. The German defence in the area was based on the second line and numerous fortified villages and farms north from Maurepas at Combles, Guillemont, Falfemont Farm, Delville Wood and High Wood, which were mutually supporting. The battle for Guillemont was considered by some observers to be the supreme effort of the German army during the battle. Numerous meetings were held by Joffre, Haig, Foch, General Sir Henry Rawlinson (commander of the British Fourth Army) and Fayolle to co-ordinate joint attacks by the four armies, all of which broke down. A pause in Anglo-French attacks at the end of August, coincided with the largest counter-attack by the German army in the Battle of the Somme. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jan Qtr 1891 at Brinklow | ~ |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Edward and Gertrude Murden | Brinklow |
| Wife | Marriage Details |
| Rose Murden nee Reeves | Jul Qtr 1915 at Rugby |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Brinklow Church School (1904 Bible Prize Winner) | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1891 - Main Street, Brinklow | 1901 - School |
| 1901 - Fog Cottage, Stretton under Fosse | 1911 - Private in Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
| 1911 - Whittington Barracks, Lichfield | |
| 1916 - 87 York Street, Rugby. |






