The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 04/05/1915 and were part of the 164th (North Lancashire) Brigade, 55th (West Lancashire) Division when Robert fell. The Division relieved 42nd (East Lancashire) Division in the front line at Givenchy and Festubert on the 15th of February. Here, it faced numerous strong enemy raids in March. Early April was at first much quieter: it was a lull before a storm. The 55th (West Lancashire) Division fought the Defence of Givenchy from the 9th - 17th April 1918. The Defence of Givenchy was to become the single most famous action that the Division fought. 'It was afterwards publicly stated by an Officer of the German General Staff that the stand made by the Division on April 9th and the days which followed marked the final ruination of the supreme German effort of 1918', says the Divisional History. Givenchy was eventually selected as the location of a fine memorial to the Division. Robert Died of Wounds received at the right subsector, Givenchy sector during the German Spring Offensive of 1918. SEE PHOTOS x 15 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MARCH 1918. Robert was formerly with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles - 26966). Robert had a brother David serving in Salonika at the time of his death. Robert's Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. He is buried in the same grave as Private Frederick Parkinson (240652) of the 2/5th Battalion King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) who Died on the 27/03/1918 aged 24. Robert is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Robert's Medal Index Card, another 2 photos of Robert's Grave, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Awards Rolls, Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pension Record x 1, Robert's previous Regiment the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge and the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment Cap Badge. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 6 FOR THE 55th (WEST LANCASHIRE) DIVISION BOOK GIVENCHY - FESTUBERT 1918, the 55th (West Lancashire) Division Order of Battle x 12 and Newspaper clippings x 4 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1).
