Robert Smith

Menin Gate Memorial. Authors image

10347 Private

1st Battalion Royal Scots, 81st Infantry Brigade, 27th Division

Age: 27

Date of Death: 20.3.15

Buried: Menin Gate Memorial Panel 11

Family history: Brother of Mrs Nellie Cooper, 3 Roman Drive, Carmuirs Houses, Camelon. He also had a brother James. Robert was a member of the 3rd Battalion Royal Scots Militia when he enlisted as a regular on 14 August 1908 and prior to that he had been employed as a moulder. Interestingly, he was company cook for one year from 1909 as well as a trained machine-gunner.

The action that lead to his death

On the 19 March 1915, the Battalion proceeded to the St Eloi sector and took over the trenches from the 82nd Brigade. Battalion HQ was established in the convent at Voormezeele. The Battalion remained in the trenches until relieved on 23 March. Nothing in particular occurred in this time. It would seem that Robert was a victim of trench wastage.

Trench map showing the trench lines at St Eloi

The War Diary recorded casualties as:

Medals Awarded:

1915 Star, The British War Medal, Victory Medal

Private Robert Smith, Royal Scots, Medal Index Card