No.1602, Corporal, Robert Victor GARWOOD
Aged 27
Robert Victor Garwood was born in Brockley ( 1st qtr 1890 Thingoe 4a:741 ) son of Amos and Ellen GARWOOD(née STIFF)
1891 census...Aged 1, he was at The Green, Brockley with his father Amos GARWOOD [44] farm labourer; his mother Ellen [40] born Chedburgh; brothers Ernest [16], Alfred [11] and Charles [9]; sisters Alice [15], twins Esther and Laura[12], Maggie [7], Mabel [5] and Ethel [3]. All except his mother were born in Brockley 1901 census...Aged 11, he was at Great Green, Brockley with his parents; sister Ethel and brothers Fred and Arnold. 1911 census...Aged 21, He was in India with the Rifle Brigade. He had joined the 3rd Battalion Suffolk Regiment and in 1906 moved to the Rifle Brigade. His widowed mother and brothers Fred and Robert were at Brockley Green. On the pension card his mother was at Mill Road, Brockley. His mother's 14 children all survive. His father died in 1909. His brother Arnold was killed in 1915 in France see here |
He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds on 24th February 1906 in the Rifle Brigade having served in the 3rd Suffolks. in 1906 he gave his age as 18,
a labourer from Brockley, 5 feet 6.75 inches tall, he weighed 128 lbs, chest 31.5 to 35 inches, blue eyes, dark brown hair, a Baptist.
Posted to 4th Battalion on 14-3-1907, and to 2nd Bn on 27-3-1908. He extended his engagement to 12 years in the colours on 15-4-1914. Ppromoted Acting L/Cpl on 19-1-1916. As L/Cpl he was posted to 5th Bn on 16-6-1916, His service was Home 24-2-1906 to 13-3-1907 Malta 14-3-1907 to 26-2-1908 India 27-2-1908 to 22-10-1914 Home 23-10-1914 to 4-11-1914 BEF 5-11-1914 to 14-5-1916 wounded -8-5-1916 Home 15-5-1916 (treated in Red Cross Hospital, Netley) to 23-2-1917 He was posted to the 12th Battalion on return to BEF BEF 23-2-1917 to death at 131 Field Ambulance, Belgium on 17-8-1917 Despite his medal index card, these dates show he should have the 1914 Star (possibly with Clasp) which is recorded on his service record. In fact this medal was received by his mother who most likely did not claim the clasp. She received his personal belongings which comprised a wallet, lock of hair, photo, disc, field report book, and a letter. On Army form 5080 in 1919 his mother recorded 11 living full blood siblings alive.
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