GARWOOD, Robert Victor


No.1602, Corporal, Robert Victor GARWOOD
Aged 27


12th Battalion, Rifle Brigade
Died of his Wounds on 17th August 1917


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.





Robert Garwood is buried in Canada Farm Cemetery, Belgium 2:C:2

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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