Name
R Pounder
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial
Pre War
Robert Pounder was born on 6 Apr 1895 (baptised 14 Apr 1895) in Manchester to Joseph Pounder, labourer, and Sarah Ellen (nee Kennedy).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents (Joseph & Sarah), Patrick, Robert and William were living at Style Steet, Manchester.
Robert’s mother Sarah died in 1902.
Robert’s father Joseph died in 1909.
On the 1911 Census Robert (telegraph messenger) together with brothers Patrick (warehouseman), William (errand boy) were living with widowed grandfather Robert and his daughters Maria (born 1878, tobacco spinner) and Charlotte (born 1883) at 3, Clegg Street, Manchester.
In 1915 Robert was employed as a sorting clerk and telegraphist for the Post Office.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Robert. He is described as Sapper 182154 in records and as being a member of 5th Cavalry Division Signal Section Royal Engineers. This seems to have originated as 2nd India Cavalry Division which had been in France since Dec 1914 and was at many battles including the Somme (normally as dismounted Infantry) Robert may have joined the Division in time for the Battle of Cambrai Tank Attack (20-21 Nov 1917). The Division was broken up and moved to Egypt in Feb/Mar 1918 to become a new 5th (Indian) Cavalry Division that went on to play a key part in the final major battle in Syria (the Battle of Megiddo in Sep1918), it also contained a number of Signal troops, presumably RE soldiers. Robert died from sickness on 10 Nov 1918.
Additional Information
The Army paid 13s 6d, the remainder of £3 Warrant to His aunt Charlotte Pounder, who also received probate of £180 18s 1d, this included an award from the Post Office.
His connection to Letchworth is not apparent.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
