Pte
Robert Gardner
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 30/09/1895 |
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Place of birth: Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Butcher's Apprentice |
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: S/16726 |
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Enlistment place: Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, 6th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 31/07/1917 |
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Place of death: Hill 37, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 38Y |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal — 16/10/1919 |
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British War Medal Medal — 27/03/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 27/03/1920 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Robert Gardner was born in 1895 in Dunbar, Haddingtonshire, Scotland and worked as a Butcher’s Apprentice before enlisting. During the war Robert served in the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, 6th Battalion, part of the 45th Brigade, of the 15th (Scottish) Division. He disembarked in France on the 6th of August 1915. In July 1917 the 15th Division moved to Flanders, as it was to participate in the Battle of Passchendaele. On 31 July 1917 it attacked the Frezenberg Ridge with two Brigades, plus one in support. Once the 44th and 46th Brigades had captured the second objective (the Black Line), the 45th Brigade would move to the last objective (the Green Line).
The 6th Cameron Highlanders remained in support till 9.30 a.m., when they moved to the Green Line. But once Robert’s Battalion had skirted the crest of the Frezenberg Ridge, it became clear the Black Line had not been consolidated and the Camerons came under heavy machine-gun fire from Beck House and Iberian. After taking the Black line, the men pushed on. Strong opposition was met at Hill 37, but the strongpoint eventually fell to the Camerons. The Green Line was reached at 11.25 a.m. and a line was consolidated along the Zonnebeke-Langemark Road. Patrols were sent out to Dochy and Otto Farm, but no one returned. In the meanwhile it became obvious that the Battalions on their left and right flank had been pinned down and were unable to advance any further. With both flanks up in the air and ammunition running short, the Camerons were forced to retreat towards the Black Line. On arrival at their new positions there were only 5 officers and about 50 men of the Battalion left.
Private Robert Gardner was killed in action on 31 July 1917, two months before he would turn twenty-two. Robert has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The 6th Cameron Highlanders remained in support till 9.30 a.m., when they moved to the Green Line. But once Robert’s Battalion had skirted the crest of the Frezenberg Ridge, it became clear the Black Line had not been consolidated and the Camerons came under heavy machine-gun fire from Beck House and Iberian. After taking the Black line, the men pushed on. Strong opposition was met at Hill 37, but the strongpoint eventually fell to the Camerons. The Green Line was reached at 11.25 a.m. and a line was consolidated along the Zonnebeke-Langemark Road. Patrols were sent out to Dochy and Otto Farm, but no one returned. In the meanwhile it became obvious that the Battalions on their left and right flank had been pinned down and were unable to advance any further. With both flanks up in the air and ammunition running short, the Camerons were forced to retreat towards the Black Line. On arrival at their new positions there were only 5 officers and about 50 men of the Battalion left.
Private Robert Gardner was killed in action on 31 July 1917, two months before he would turn twenty-two. Robert has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 6
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 27-29. Sources used |
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"The fifteenth (Scottish) Division", Stewart J. & Buchan J., Uckfield, Naval & Military Press Ltd, s.d., pg. 161-168. Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/930444/gardner,-robert/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, 6th Bn. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Further reference |