Pte 22921 Robert Barclay

• Age: 32
• From: Allerton, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 21st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Bronfay Farm Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.A.26

Robert was born in Allerton, Liverpool, in the March quarter of 1884, to John Hughes Barclay and his wife Janet Isabella (nee Sligh), who married in 1864 in Quarndon parish church, Derbyshire. John gives his occupation as groom and his residence as Childwall, Lancashire.  Janet was born Chadderton, Derbyshire.

In 1891 the family are living in Mold, Flintshire, at Leeswood Hall Cottage, with four daughters and Robert, 7. His father John is a coachman.

In 1901 the family have moved to Liverpool and are in the Wavertree district, living at Elmswood Cottage. His father is a caretaker/domestic gardener. Robert is 17, a shop porter, sister Janet is 15  and Amy is 9.

His father died in 1906, aged 65, and his mother in late 1911, aged 69, in Chippenham, Wiltshire, living with her married daughter Agnes.

The 1911 census finds Robert, 26, a tailor’s salesman, boarding with John and Sarah Mercer and their three children at 44 Chernside Road, Aigburth.

He was a church worker in the Parish of Mossley Hill and had been a Sunday School teacher for more than one year. He was also the Secretary of the Men's Bible Class and a member of the Church of England Mens Society. He also worked in the Club for poor boys in the Parish of All Saints and also in the Dingle Mission.  

He enlisted in Liverpool on the 10th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22921. He was aged 30 and gave his occupation as a salesman. He was described as being five feet eight and half inches tall, weighed 153lbs, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and black hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. His next of kin was his eldest sister Agnes Barclay of the School House, Nettleton, Chippenham.  

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Robert embarked for France with his battalion on the 07th November 1915 with No 4 Company,

He attended a  Trench Mortar Course at School of Mortars 3rd Army between 23rd February - 02nd March 1916 and was attached to 89/1 Trench Mortar Battery, attached Signal Service 3rd Army 24th March 1916. He was admitted to 96 Field Ambulance on 16th March 1916 with Influenza and discharged three days later on 19th March. He was admitted to 97 Field Ambulance on 13th April 1916 with Influenza and discharged back to his unit on 26th April 1916. 

Robert died of wounds on 21st July 1916 in 142 Field Ambulance.  It is not known the date his wounds were received.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post Monday 31st July 1916

FALLEN AND WOUNDED "PALS."

Private Robert Barclay was killed in his dug out by a German shell. For some time previous to his enlistment he lived with friends at 35 Kingsdale Road. Mossley Hill. He was a devoted church worker in the parish of Mossley Hill, being a Sunday school teacher with more than 12 years service, secretary of the men's bible class, and the key member of the Church of England Men's Society. He was also an energetic worker in a club for poor boys in the parish of all Saints, Liverpool, and also at the Dingle Mission. He and others will be remembered at the service of intercession and memorial to be held in Mossley Hill Church at 8 p.m. on Friday next, the second anniversary of the declaration of war.

Robert now rests at Bronfay Farm Military Cemetary in France  (Plot No II. A. 2).

The cemetery was begun by French troops in October 1914, but little used by them. It was used by Commonwealth troops from August 1915 to February 1917, particularly during the Battle of the Somme, when the XIV Corps Main Dressing station was at the farm. During the retreat and advance of 1918, further burials were made and after the Armistice, graves of March, August and September 1918 were brought in from the fields between Bronfay Farm and Bray.

Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery  contains 537 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 13 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to two casualties believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His personal items were returned and included 1 disc, packet of photos and letters, cig. case containing 4 cigs.

His effects were shared by his siblings Agnes, Isabel, Kate, Alice, Janet, Amy, and John.

Robert is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 14 Left 

St Matthew & St James Church, Rose Lane, Liverpool

St Michael-in-the-Hamlet with St Andrew Parish Church, Church Road, Toxteth

Garston Roll of Honour, Garston War Memorial.

Though not on the Nettleton, Wiltshire memorial where his mother is buried, the website does, however, acknowledge his service.

We currently have no further information on Robert Barclay, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.