Cpl 17499 Robert Webster

• Age: 26
• From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
• Commemorated at: Savy Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: I.G.12

Robert (Bob)was born in born in late June 1891 in St. Paul’s parish, Birkenhead, the son of Edward Webster and his wife Rachel (née Blackmore). In 1891 at the time of Robert’s birth, his parents lived at 167 Borough Road, his father working as a butcher. His parents, both born in Liverpool, married in 1879 and had eleven children, all born in Birkenhead. Bob had older sisters Margaret Ann, Florence May, Alice Maud, Ellen Beatrice, and Ethel Rachel, and an older brother Albert Edward.  His younger siblings were Emily Gertrude, William, Henry Michael, and Ernest Ashley. 

At the time of the 1901 census his father is a butcher/shopkeeper, working on his own account at home, at 249 Borough Road, with five daughters and four sons; Robert is 9. 

His eldest sister Margaret Ann died in 1906, aged 26. 

In 1911 they are still at the same address, with eight children at home.  His father, 55, runs his own butcher’s shop, his sister Alice, 28, is a clerk in the business, and Robert, 19, assists his father.  His mother is 54, Ellen, 25, has no occupation, Albert, 21, is a clerk for a soap manufacturer, and Emily, 17, is a shorthand typist in an estate agents.  William, 13, Henry, 11, and Ernest, 9, are at school.

He enlisted at St. George's Hall in Liverpool on 03rd September 1914 joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17499. He gave his age as 23 years and 71 days, and his occupation as clerk.  He is described as being 5’ 6 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 116 lbs, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes, and fair hair, and a birthmark on his arm.  He gives as next of kin his father Edward at 249 Borough Road, and his religion as C of E. 

His older brother (Albert) Edward had enlisted, also in the 19th K.L.R., the previous day, on 2nd September 1914 as Pte. 17978. 
Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation 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.  

Bob was part of the 19th Battalion Concert Party known as The Duds. They performed hundreds of times both in the UK and in France and Belgium. They raised money for the Pals Comfort Funds. The photograph of Robert on this site was taken during an engagement of The Duds at Talbot House in Poperinghe in 1917. Talbot House is world renowned as Toc H. 

His service record survives and shows: 

He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 07/?/1915 and on 16/9/1915 appointed paid L/Cpl. 

Bob and Edward shipped to France together with their battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915. 

In May 1916 he was hospitalised in Rouen for nephritis and rejoined his unit a month later. 

He was appointed Acting Corporal on 07/8/1916. 

He was granted leave to the U.K. from 27/11/916 and rejoined his unit on 11/12/1916. 

On 17/2/1917 promoted Corporal. 

He was reprimanded for overstaying his pass 40 minutes, in the field, on 22/9/1917. 

From 22/9/17 granted 10 days’ leave to the U.K.

Robert was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918 aged 26 serving with the 19^th Battalion (No 1 Company), The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 17499. during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the events of the day:

22^nd  GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am. 

His body was found by the Germans who buried him in the St. Quentin-Roupy Road German Cemetery at L’Epine de Dallon (just southwest of St. Quentin), and his grave marked with a cross.  (His burial was originally recorded by the Graves Registration unit as Capt. Webster 19/K.L’pools, d. March 1918, but later amended.).

He was one of 232 British soldiers who fell in March 1918 and were reinterred in Savy Military Cemetery in 1919, where he now rests. 

Savy was taken by the 32nd Division on the 1st April 1917, after hard fighting, and Savy Wood on the 2nd. On the 21st March 1918 Savy and Roupy were successfully defended by the 30th Division, but the line was withdrawn after nightfall. The village and the wood were retaken on the 17th September 1918 by the 34th French Division, fighting on the right of the British IX Corps.

Savy British Cemetery was made in 1919, and the graves from the battlefields and from the following small cemeteries in the neighbourhood were concentrated into it.

There are now over 850, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, more than half are unidentified. Memorials are erected in the cemetery to 68 soldiers (chiefly of the 19th King's Liverpools and the 17th Manchesters), buried by the Germans in their cemetery on the St. Quentin-Roupy road, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire.

The Cemetery covers an area of 2,555 square metres and is enclosed by a low rubble wall.

His loved ones placed notices in the Liverpool Echo on 10th April 1918: 

“Killed in action about March 22, aged 24 years, Corporal Robert Webster (Pals), second son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Webster, 249 Borough Road.” 

“Killed in action about March 22, Corporal R. Webster (Bob) K.L.R. (My hero.). Deeply mourned by his sorrowing Fiancée May and all at 70 Grosvenor Street, Ellesmere Port.”

Bob earned his three medals, which his father signed for.  His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £17-10s went to his father. 

No pension card has been found. 

In May 1919 his father provided information on Bob’s living relatives:  His parents were still at 249 Borough Road with his brothers Edward 30, William 22, Henry 19, and Ernest 18.  Married sisters Florence, Alice, Ethel, and Emily, live in Birkenhead, and married sister Ellen lives in London.  

All four sons of military age served, and his three brothers survived the war. 

His brother Edward remained with the 19th Bn, achieved the rank of Sergeant, and was discharged on 21/02/1919 with a Silver War Badge.  

William enlisted on 24th February 1916 when he was 18, was mobilised on 12th May 1916 in the 1/10th K.L.R. and arrived in France in September.  He was wounded in action on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele and was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. 

His younger brother Henry enlisted on 18/9/1916 when he had just turned 17, served overseas with the 1/7th Lancs Fusiliers, and was discharged on 08/3/1919, aged 19. Sadly, Henry died at home not long after he was discharged, in August 1919, before his 20th birthday.  His mother received a Dependant’s Pension of 7/- in 1920.  However, no CWGC record has been found for Henry. 

On the first anniversary of his death, his parents paid tribute to Bob, in the Birkenhead News:

“In treasured memory of Bob, the greatly-loved second son of Edward and Rachel Webster, killed in action at St. Quentin, March 22, 1918.  Very sadly missed by all at 249 Borough Road, Birkenhead.” 

Birkenhead News 13th Apr 1918

Borough-Rd Corporal Reported Killed

Mr and Mrs Edward Webster, 249 Borough Road, Birkenhead, have received a letter from a soldier friend at the front informing them that their second son, Corporal Robert Webster K.L.R., was killed in action on March 22nd; but so far no official confirmation has been received. Four sons of this family have been serving with the colours.

Birkenhead News 16th Aug 1919

WEBSTER - August 15th, at 249 Borough Road, HENRY MICHAEL, aged 19 years, the dearly beloved son of Edward and Rachael Webster.

Internment at Flaybrick Hill Cemetery on Tuesday next at 2 p.m. (Late of the 1/7th Lancs Fus.)

His father appears to have died in 1927, and his mother in 1934, aged 77. 

Both Bob and Henry are commemorated on the Birkenhead War Memorial at Hamilton Square. 

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