Name
Robert William Melville
1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
S/24679
Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE
V. A. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Tring memorials,
Holy Trinity Church, Change Ringers, Guildford, Surrey
Pre War
Robert William Melville was born in 1893 in Tring (but birth registered in Willesden) to William Rodrick Melville, blacksmith, and Emily Louise (nee Tidbury).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents and Robert were living at 12, Langdon Street, Tring.
On the 1911 Census Robert was living with his parents, Millicent Emily (born 1903), Grace Louise (born 1905), Jessie May (born 1909) at Waverley, Longfield Road, Tring. Also listed was James Melville, an Uncle.
He was formerly an employee of Messrs. Dennis Bros. was a member of the Guildford I.O.G.T. and a bellringer at Holy Trinity Church.
His parents later lived at 17, Bedford Rd., Guildford, Surrey.
Wartime Service
Service Record was found for Robert. Presumably he would have been called to enlist, in Guildford, Surrey around the age of 18 in 1917 and was posted to the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in the 9th (Service) Battalion as Private S/24679.
The 16th (Irish) Division returned to UK on 18 Jun 1918 to refit after taking many casualties. Robert in the 9th Back Watch joined the Division on 2 Jul 1918 in the 47th Brigade and landed in France on 1 Aug 1918 where they took part in the Final Advance in Artois. Robert was wounded during this advance. It was reported that he was gassed on 4 September 1917 and although evacuated to Hospitals near Boulogne died on 20 Sep 1918.
Additional Information
His father, William R. Melville, was living at 17, Bedford Rd., Guildford, Surrey, when he ordered his headstone inscription, which reads: "HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS".
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
