JAGGARD, Robert
No. 320747, Private, Robert George JAGGARD
Aged 37
15th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
formerly 19819 Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Tuesday 6th November, 1917
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Born Q1-1880 in Bottisham [Newmarket 3b:549] ("Soldiers Died" gives Swaffham Prior) to Charles and Fanny Hussall JAGGARD (née UNWIN) of Church End, Great Wilbraham. 1881 census...Robert [1] was at Church End, Great Wilbraham with his mother Fanny H [33], born Gt Wilbraham, and his brothers Charles [11] and Arthur [10] both born Gt Wilbraham, and brother Harry H [6] born in Bottisham. His father Charles [31] Agr.Labourer, born Ely, was with his own parents and siblings that night at Hare Park, Dullingham. 1891 census...Robert [11] was at Church End, Great Wilbraham with his parents and brothers Charles, Arthur, Harry, Edward J [7] born Gt Wilbraham and Frederick [3] born Balsham 1901 census...His mother died before the 1901 census, but no record can be found as yet. Robert [20] single, Farm Labourer was with his widower father, now a "stationed engine driver", brother Fred [13] a farm labourer, and Alice CRANE [22] born Exning, housekeeper and her son Henry CRANE [1], born Exning. were all at Landwade Road, Exning 1911 census...Robert married Alice Elizabeth CRANE [26-3-1879] in Exning in Q4-1901 and at the census he was working at the cement factory and they were living at 1 Maltings Yard, Exning with three children, Edith [8], Evelyn [26-3-1907] and son Leslie Robert [21-1-1910] all born in Exning. There were 2 further children, Queenie May [24-10-1911] and Sidney Robert [17-1-1917]. On the pension card they were at Swaffham Prior but then moved to 4 King George Avenue, Exning. Edith is not on the pension card as she would have been too old by then. There is a mystery as to why only Soldiers Died have him born in Swaffham Prior and that village names him on their war memorial, no doubt due to his family living there at the time of his death. All census records show his birth place as Bottisham but he is not named on the memorial there. Also no records so far found have him in Burwell but he is named there?
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The 15th Suffolks were part of 230 Brigade, 74th Division in Palestine. On the 6th November 1917 they attacked a system of trenches covering Sheria, starting
at 3 am. Before day break they had lost many of their officers. Behind a ridge they re-organised with "D" Coy coming into the line, while "A" and "C" moved
east of Wadi Union. Supported by the Machine Gun Corps, the attack was resumed, driving out the Turks from all objectives. They then received orders to go
no further. Many prisoners had been taken and a gun battery. The Turks strove to regain these guns, but failed. The battalion was relieved in the evening.
This action had the effect of turning the Turkish flank. 20 men of the 15th Suffolks died this day, none has an identified grave |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details