Other Information:Robert joined the Church Lads' Brigade in Walker, where he was presented with a bible, signed by Captain John G Scott, with the inscription: "Presented to Private Robert Smith, for good behaviour in 1899, Camp at Flamboro', Yorkshire". He enlisted into the army on the 24th May 1901. In 1905, he was serving with The Tyne Volunteer Brigade Bearer Company as a Bugler, he did his training in Ramsey, Haltwhistle, Richmond, North Wales and Ripon. Robert entered the war in France on the 18th April 1915 with the 1st Northumbrian Field Ambulance. He died from a fractured skull caused by falling from his horse, the unit war diary records:- 1st Aug 1 P.M. “Q.M. Sergt R. SMITH of this unit was found on road at M23a 2.8 at about 1 P.M. with fractured base of skull. He had evidently been thrown off horse. He was removed to D.A.C. (50 Div) lines, which he had visited about 5 minutes previously & was attended to by Capt Robertson R.A.M.C. He sent word here & I went in ambulance with Capt Errington & took him to No 8 C.C.S. where he died at 3 P.M." The funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on the 2nd August in a nearby convent attended by fellow NCOs and officers and his sister who was serving with the QAIMNS(R). Robert was the son of John and Mary Jane (née Davison). [Information sources: CWGC, Soldiers Died, MIC and Robert's family (Portrait photograph courtesy of Robert's family)]
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