Robert Arthur Middleton

Robert Arthur was the son of Robert and Rose Middleton. His father, Robert, was born in Gainsborough in 1861; he was an engine fitter. His mother, Rose, was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, in about 1865. No trace has yet been found of their marriage but on the 1911 Census they gave the information that they had been married for 20 years and had had five children. Five children were named on the 1901 and 1911 Census; Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) probably born 1894 (Birmingham, registered A/M/J Aston), Caroline (Carrie) b. 1895 (Nottingham, registered O/N/D), Lily Edith b. 1898 (Nottingham), Robert Arthur b. 1899 (Nottingham) and Rosa/Rose b. 1904 (Nottingham). In 1901 Robert (40) and Rose (36) were living at 15 Royston Terrace, Hawthorne Street, Meadows, Nottingham, with their four children Mary (7), Caroline (5), Lily (3) and Robert (1). By 1911 the family was living at 1 Black Lion Yard, Castle Gate, Nottingham; there were now five children in the family; Lizzie (17), a confectionary assistant, Carrie (15) a blouse hand, Lily (12) an errand girl, and Robert (11) and Rosa (7) who were both at school. Rose probably died in 1915 (registered J/F/M Nottingham) at the age of 50. By the time Robert Arthur joined the Royal Navy in 1915 the family was probably living at 8 Launder Terrace, Kirkewhite Street, Meadows, Nottingham, and this was certainly his father's address when Robert Arthur died in November 1918. From the notices of Robert Arthur's death in the local paper it would seem that some of his sisters were married by 1918. Caroline Middleton married Albert E Bingham in 1916 (J/A/S Nottingham), Lily and Mary Elizabeth both appear to have married in 1918 - Lily to Thomas Phillips (A/M/J 1918 Nottingham), and Mary Elizabeth to either Stacey Smith (J/A/S 1918 Nottingham) or Harold Bragg (O/N/D 1918 Nottingham). The youngest girl, Rosa, would only have been 14 years old at the time of her brother's death. Robert probably died in 1930 (registered June Nottingham) at the age of 69.

He was a horse driver when he joined the Royal Navy.

Nottingham

ex-Bristol Z/4233 Ordinary Seaman RNVR. Robert enlisted on 2 September 1915 when he was 16 years old, but was discharged on 9 May 1916 as he had joined under-age. He re-enrolled on 21 August 1917 as R/6051 Ordinary Seaman RNVR. He was drafted for the BEF (France) on 2 April 1918 and joined Drake Battalion on 8 April 1918. He was admitted to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station, Boisieux-au-Mont on 8 November 1818 with shell wounds to the abdomen and right leg and died of his wounds on 10 November. He is buried in Cambrai East Military Cemetery (grave ref. II.B.31).

Nottingham Evening Post', 18th November 1918. ‘Able Seaman Robert Arthur Middleton, Drake Battalion, Royal Naval Division, died of wounds in the 1st Casualty Clearing Station, Boisleux-au-Mont on 10th November 1918 – a shell wound received on 8th November. A horse-driver in civilian life, he was born on 28th August 1899. He had originally enlisted on 2nd November 1915 but when his true age was discovered, he discharged on 9th May 1916. Re-enlisting on 21st August 1917, he landed in France on 2nd April 1918 and joined his ...battalion on 8th April. He is buried in Cambrai East Military Cemetery.’ The memorial notice placed in the local press by his family reported his date of death as 11th November. 'MIDDLETON. - On November 11th, died of wounds received in action, A.B. Robert Middleton, R.N.D., aged 19, only son of R. Middleton, 8, Launder-terrace, Kirke White-street. Shattered hopes. - From father, sisters, brothers-in-law.'