Pte
Robert Ogilvie
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 28/08/1888 |
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Place of birth: Dundee, Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 202932 |
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Enlistment place: Dundee, Angus, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Gordon Highlanders, 1/4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Pheasant Farm - Jungburg, Langemarck, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 29 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 136 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Robert Ogilvie served in the Gordon Highlanders 1st/4th Battalion, part of the 154th Brigade, of the 51st (Highland) Division. The Division participated in the Third Battle of Ypres (31st of July-10th of November 1917), also known as the Battle of Passchendaele.
It advanced on the 20th of September 1917. The attack was part of the Battle of Menin Road Ridge (20-25th of September 1917). The 51st (Highland) Division attacked with the 154th Brigade. The Brigade’s attack was carried by the 9th Royal Scots on the right and the 4th Seaforth Highlanders on the left, which were to take the first objective (the Blue Dotted Line). Once they had captured the first objective the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, on the right, and the 4th Gordon highlanders, on the left, were to move through and had advance to the second objective (Blue Line).
At zero hour 5.40 a.m. the barrage started, with the attacking parties closely behind it. The Seaforths in front of the Gordons had trouble in taking their objective, especially the Pill-boxes at Pheasant Farm. When the Gordons moved through the Seaforths, they encountered stiff opposition from fortified farms, especially from Malta-, Delta- and Rose House. The Battalion took their objective round 8 a.m. without great opposition. Notwithstanding the weak resistance at the Blue Line, they had already suffered heavy casualties in taking the fortified farms. The remnants of the 4th Gordons and the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders started consolidating the line.
At noon the Germans launched a first counterattack, but they were successfully driven back. From then on the men in the frontline were relentlessly shelled by the German artillery and the line had to be withdrawn a couple of times. At 5.30 p.m. the Germans advanced in large numbers. The counterattack was fought off until a shortage of ammunition forced the men back. Men were sent back up to hold the line. Although the former Blue Line could not be re-established, the Battalion was able to hold a satisfactory front. The 4th Gordons had suffered a total of 200 casualties, wounded, killed and missing during the attack.
Private Robert Ogilvie was killed in action during the attack on the 20th of September 1917. His remains were never recovered. He is now remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
It advanced on the 20th of September 1917. The attack was part of the Battle of Menin Road Ridge (20-25th of September 1917). The 51st (Highland) Division attacked with the 154th Brigade. The Brigade’s attack was carried by the 9th Royal Scots on the right and the 4th Seaforth Highlanders on the left, which were to take the first objective (the Blue Dotted Line). Once they had captured the first objective the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, on the right, and the 4th Gordon highlanders, on the left, were to move through and had advance to the second objective (Blue Line).
At zero hour 5.40 a.m. the barrage started, with the attacking parties closely behind it. The Seaforths in front of the Gordons had trouble in taking their objective, especially the Pill-boxes at Pheasant Farm. When the Gordons moved through the Seaforths, they encountered stiff opposition from fortified farms, especially from Malta-, Delta- and Rose House. The Battalion took their objective round 8 a.m. without great opposition. Notwithstanding the weak resistance at the Blue Line, they had already suffered heavy casualties in taking the fortified farms. The remnants of the 4th Gordons and the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders started consolidating the line.
At noon the Germans launched a first counterattack, but they were successfully driven back. From then on the men in the frontline were relentlessly shelled by the German artillery and the line had to be withdrawn a couple of times. At 5.30 p.m. the Germans advanced in large numbers. The counterattack was fought off until a shortage of ammunition forced the men back. Men were sent back up to hold the line. Although the former Blue Line could not be re-established, the Battalion was able to hold a satisfactory front. The 4th Gordons had suffered a total of 200 casualties, wounded, killed and missing during the attack.
Private Robert Ogilvie was killed in action during the attack on the 20th of September 1917. His remains were never recovered. He is now remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 2
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Falls C., The Gordon Highlanders in the First World War, (Aberdeen, Aberdeen University Press, 1957), pg. 160-161. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 67-80. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/832596 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e28d3b68-13a4-4d64-9c43-25b358706130 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/3322546 |