Robert Greenshields Findlay likeness

Robert Greenshields Findlay cap badgePrivate Robert Greenshields Findlay

Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) 34th Battalion
Service No: 132485

Robert Greenshields Findlay grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Only son of Samuel and Sarah Findlay (1870 - 15/04/1947) of 52 North Square, Gartsherrie, Coatbridge. From the 1901 Census - Address - 162 North Square, Coatbridge - Thomas Findlay aged 60, Sarah Findlay aged 31, Robert Findlay aged 2, boarders Martin Barry aged 24, John Hamilton aged 35. Thomas listed as Robert's father on the Census (possibly his Grandfather as his father was Samuel). Robert's Pension was awarded to his mother Sarah on the 31/03/1919.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 52 North Square, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 07/10/1918 near Zantvoorde during the Final Advance in Flanders

Enlisted

Hamilton /04/1917

Employed

Hammerman in the North British Railways, Kipps.

Age

19

Buried / Remembered

Zantvoorde British Cemetery (III. G. 25), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

On 30 October 1914, the village of Zantvoorde (now Zandvoorde) was held by the 1st and 2nd Life Guards, numbering between 300 and 400 men. It was bombarded for over an hour with heavy guns and then taken by the 39th German Division and three attached battalions. The whole front of the 3rd Cavalry Division was driven back to the Klein-Zillebeke ridge. The village could not be retaken and remained in German hands until 28 September 1918. The Household Cavalry Memorial, unveiled by Lord Haig in May 1924, stands on the South side of the village at the place where part of the Brigade was annihilated in 1914. Zantvoorde British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields and nearby German cemeteries. Many were those of soldiers who died in the desperate fighting round Zantvoorde, Zillebeke and Gheluvelt in the latter part of October 1914. There are now 1,583 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 1,135 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate 32 soldiers buried in two of the German cemeteries whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery also contains one Second World War burial.

Additional Information

The Battalion were part of 34th Division. Robert arrived in France in February 1918 and fell near Zantvoorde during the Final Advance in Flanders : 28th September - 11th November 1918 : The British Second Army and Belgian Army combine and finally break out of the Ypres salient. More ground is gained in a day that in the entire Passchendaele offensive of a year before. The Offensive continues through fighting in the Courtrai area and eventually well across the Scheldt. SEE PHOTOS x 18 FOR THE 34th BATTALION WAR DIARY 1st SEPTEMBER - 10th OCTOBER 1918. The War Diary states : "On the night 7/8th October 101st Brigade relieved 102nd Brigade on the Division Front. "A" Company 34th Battalion relieved "D" Company 34th Battalion M.G.C. who moved into position in support". The Battalion War Diary also states casualties for the month of September - "7 Other Ranks Killed in Action, 39 Wounded (1 Died of Wounds), 1 Missing. The following casualties were sustained by the Battalion during the month of October - 3 Officers Wounded, 6 Other Ranks Killed in Action, 63 Wounded". Robert is listed as FINLAY on the Coatbridge Memorial. The Reverend Archibald Chisholm referred to Robert's death in his children's address in the Middle UF Church on Sunday the 2nd of November 1918 - the 2nd last Sunday of the War. Robert is listed as falling on 06/10/1918 on the Family Plot (see photos x 2) and is also listed as 18 with the CWGC but 19 on the Family Plot. A huge thanks to Danielle Roubroeks for Robert's Grave photo. He is also remembered in the Gartsherrie Works Roll of Honour (see photos x 2). Robert is reburied in Zantvoorde British Cemetery (see Reburial photo). He is NOT listed on the Kipps Memorial. See photos for Robert's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Robert's Pension Records x 2 and the Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for the 34th Division Order of Battle x 15 (the Division he was with when he died), PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 34th DIVISION BOOK 27th JUNE - 4th AUGUST 1918 and PHOTOS x 12 FROM THE 34th DIVISION BOOK 7th AUGUST - 12th OCTOBER 1918 and Newspaper clippings x 6 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2).

Photos
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War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

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