Name
Robert High
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
Biography
Robert High was born in the summer of 1882 at Abbots Langley. He was one of seven children (five sons and two daughters) born to William and Maria High. William High was employed as an Elementary Schoolmaster and in 1891 the family lived at the School House at Abbots Langley. At the time of the 1901 Census the family were recorded living at the High Street, possibly still at the School House. In the 1911 Census William High had retired and lived with his wife and Robert at Elm Villa at Abbots Langley. Robert was employed by the London North Western Railway as a Clerk in the Expenditure Office at Euston Station. One of his brothers, Percy, also served in the Great War.
Robert attested and underwent a Medical Examination at Watford on 26th November 1915. He enlisted with the Northamptonshire Regiment on 19th June 1916, and he was recorded for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in August 1916, serving with the 8th Northampton’s. On 4th November 1916 he arrived at Devonport en route to Salonika where he joined the 9th Battalion of the Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment (KORL) on 25th November. Robert spent the rest of the War in Salonika, and suffered badly from malaria during this period.
He was admitted to the 31st Casualty Clearing Station on 12th June 1917 and transferred to No 29 General Hospital the next day. He re-joined the 9th KORL in the Field on 3rd October. On 23rd May 1918 he was admitted to No 21 Stationary Hospital suffering from Pyrexia (fever), and was transferred to No 80 General Hospital on 26th May. He re-joined his unit on 6th July, but was once again admitted to No 63 General Hospital on 14th October 1918, again suffering from malaria. Three days later on 19th October he was transferred to No 8 General Hospital and returned to his unit in the Field on the 9th November. On 26th November 1918 he was admitted to the Field Ambulance, with another bout of malaria, and on 28th November was sent to No 43 General Hospital.
He returned to England from Salonika on 27th December 1918 as a Malaria Case, and was sent to the KORL Depot at Lancaster where on 30th January 1919 he underwent a medical examination. His Medical Report recorded that his last case of malaria had been on 28th November 1918 at Salonika, and that he was now keeping well. A decision was taken to re-examine Robert in six months, and he was classified with a 20% degree of disablement. However his request for a War Pension was subsequently rejected,
Robert High was demobilised on 3rd March 1919, and survived the War, as did his brother Percy.
Additional Information
Formerly 8th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
