Name
Robert William Putterill
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/07/1917
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36431
Royal Berkshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 45.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial,
Hatfield In Memoriam Book,
Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans,
Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans,
Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Robert was the son of Thomas and Ann Putterill, of 6, Primrose Cottages, Hatfield, Herts. and was born circa 1878.
In the 1881 Census Robert was 3 and living with his parents and siblings in Back Street, Hatfield. Hs father was working as a carman. By 1911 his father had died. They had moved to 6, Primrose Cottages, Hatfield and Robert, now 33, was living with his widowed mother, Ann, and a brother. Robert was working as a carman on estate.
Officially recorded living in Hatfield when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Formerly 5883, Herts. Regt. Then Private 36431, 6th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (Royal Berkshire Regiment).
He joined in November 1916 and in the following June proceeded overseas. He fought in many sectors of the Western Front and during the fierce conflict at St Julien was killed in action on July 31st 1917. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medal.
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine September of 1917, recorded: “This issue of the magazine is of necessity a sad one owing to the large number of casualties incurred by Hertfordshire in the glorious action at St Julien, in which all the officers of the 1st Herts. were killed or wounded and a heavy toll in life of the men under them was taken. .......... We have however to mourn the loss of seven brave men: One Robert Putterill, R.A.M.C. ........ Concerning the death of Robert Putterill, we learn that he lost his life while bringing in the wounded under heavy shell fire.”
Then in November 1917, a letter was transcribed:
"6th Royal Berks. B.E.F
“Dear Mrs Putterill, It is with sincere regret that I have to inform you of the death of your son while serving with us as a stretcher bearer. He was a son to be proud of, and on that day (July 31) he had been carrying the wounded all day under the most dangerous conditions. Late in the afternoon he was hit by a shell while carrying back a badly wounded man and killed instantly. I cannot speak highly enough of your son or express in words my own deep regret at his loss, which regret is shared by us all.
Yours Sincerely, Harold Acherley, Captain, R.A.M.C.”
Awarded the Victory medal and British War Medal.
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Putterill (Mother) of 6, Primrose Cottages, Hatfield, received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
