Robert was born in Trimley in April 1891.  His father John worked in a laundry and his mother Emma was a housewife.  He had a large family, he had an older brother and sister, 3 younger brothers and 4 younger sisters.  During the war his family lived at 45 King Street.

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He joined the York and Lancaster Regiment aged 18 in 1909.  He died from a disease in Monkwearmouth Hospital on 9th December 1915.  He is buried at Mere Knolls Cemetery in Sunderland.

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He is the paternal cousin of the Smith brothers, also named on the memorial

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