Pte
Robert Ogilvie

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
28/08/1888
Geboorteplaats:
Dundee, Angus, Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
202932
Dienstneming plaats:
Dundee, Angus, Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Gordon Highlanders, 1/4th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
20/09/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Pheasant Farm - Jungburg, Langemark, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
29

Gedenkplaats

Tyne Cot Memorial
Paneel: 136

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 3

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats
#3 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

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.

Bronnen 2

Falls C., The Gordon Highlanders in the First World War, (Aberdeen, Aberdeen University Press, 1957), pg. 160-161.
Gebruikte bronnen
McCarthy C., The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995), pg. 67-80.
Gebruikte bronnen

Meer informatie 3