Robert Sly
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Robert was the youngest son of Allen and Sarah Ann Sly (née Hunt). His father Allen was born in Spalding, Lincolnshire, and his mother Sarah Ann in Retford, Nottinghamshire. They were married at Spalding St Mary & St Nicholas in April 1880 and had 11 children, one of whom died in infancy: Elizabeth Ann b. Spalding 1881; Kate Lilian b. Skegness 1883 bap. Skegness June 1883; Allen b. Skegness 1885; Harriett Emma b. Skegness 1886 bap. Skegness July 1886; Victoria Maud b. 1887 bap. Skegness August 1887 d. 1887; Frederick George b. Spalding 1889 (reg. J/F/M); Victoria b. Grimsby 1891 (reg. J/F/M); Ethel May b. Boston 1892; Bertha b. Skegness 1894 bap. Skegness July 1894; George b. Skegness 1896 and Robert Charles b. Skegness 1898. Allen, a grocer, and Sarah were living in Spalding in 1881 and although it appears from the birthplaces of their next five children that they were living in Skegness between 1883 and 1887 and Spalding in 1889 by 1891 they were recorded at Nelson Street, Grimsby where Allen was working as a confectioner. He and Sarah had six surviving children: Elizabeth, Allen, Harriet, Fred and Victoria who were in the home on the night of the census and Kate Lilian (7) who was in Skegness with her aunt and uncle, Henry and Sarah Clark. Their daughter Ethel May was born the following year in Boston, Lincolnshire, then Bertha and their two youngest sons were born in Skegness between 1894 and 1898. However, by 1901 Allen, a general dealer, and Sarah Ann, were living at 4 Woolpack Street, Retford, the town of Sarah's birth. In the home on the night of the census were seven of their ten surviving children: Allen a general labourer, Harriet, Fred a grocer's errand boy, Ethel May, Bertha, George and Robert (2). Kate was working as a housemaid ('living out') in Skegness while Victoria (10) was living in Leicester with John and Lavinia Mackness (both b. Leicester) and described as their adopted daughter. The eldest daughter, Elizabeth, has not yet been traced on the 1901/1911 Census but it is likely that she had married before 1901. The family was still living at the same address in 1911; Allen snr. was now a fruiterer. In the home with their parents were Bertha, George and Robert together with their married sister, Harriett Malarkey, who had married John Walter Malarkey in 1906 (reg. Boston); Harriet's husband was living with his parents in Doncaster. Kate Lilian had also married (John Henry Hunt, 1902 reg. East Retford) while Ethel May was probably a domestic servant in Retford in the household of widower Thomas Walker (57), a grocer, and his two adult daughters. Victoria, who had been adopted, has not yet been traced on the census. Allen jnr., a labourer (tannery), was living in Cheetham, Manchester, with his wife Florence (née Boff m. 1908 Ardwick St Benedict Manchester) and their daughter Florence Millicent (1). Also in the household was Allen's brother Frederick, also a labourer (tannery), his wife Gertrude (née Hoult m. 1908 reg. Retford) and their son Frederick (u/1). Allen snr. died in August 1915; the probate record gave his address as 2 Woolpack Street. According to a report of Robert's death in the local paper in June 1918, his mother Sarah Ann was living at West Ashby, Horncastle, Lincolnshire. The same newspaper report mentions his three brothers, Allen, George and Fred, who were also serving; Allen in the Royal North Lancashire Regiment, George a 'Retford Territorial' who was a prisoner of war in Germany and Fred formely of the Coldstream Guards, who had been discharged 'as unfit'. All survived the war. (See 'extra information). Their sister Harriet Emma Malarkey's husband, John Walter, served in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (43116 Private, formerly 33596 Northumberland Fusiliers) and died of wounds on 19 April 1917. Harriett was his sole legatee. She married secondly Richard Beauchamp (reg. 1917 A/M/J Retford) who served in the Royal Horse Artillery (604169 Gunner). He was discharged in January 1919 and may have qualified for a disability pension (d. 1934).
A Bty 52nd Bde Royal Field Artillery Robert Sly joined the army at Doncaster when he was 17 years of age. Following basic training at Newcastle he went to France before his 18th birthday. He then served in Ireland before returning to France. Robert was killed on 22 April 1918, only a few weeks after returning to France, and is buried in the La Targette British Cemetery, Neuville-St Vaas, France (grave ref. I.K.3). CWGC - History of La Targette British Cemetery (extract): 'Neuville-St. Vaast is a village 6.5 kilometres north of Arras. La Targette British Cemetery, formerly known as Aux-Rietz Military Cemetery, was begun at the end of April 1917 and used by field ambulances and fighting units until September 1918. Nearly a third of the graves have an artillery connection; in March-April 1917, the artillery of the 2nd Canadian and 5th Divisions, and certain heavy artillery units, had their headquarters in a deep cave at Aux-Rietz. Sixteen graves were brought into the cemetery from the immediate neighbourhood after the Armistice and a further 26 sets of First World War remains were added during the Second World War.' (www.cwgc.org)
Robert's three brothers, Allen, Frederick and George also served in the war. Retford & Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 6 October 1914. ‘St Saviour’s Parish and the War. Men Serving with His Majesty’s Forces: Territorials: George Sly. Regulars: Fred Sly.’ Retford & Worksop Herald and North Notts Advertiser: 6 April 1915: Retford’s Roll of Honour. The GN Railwaymen. The following is a list of men who have joined the service from the Great Northern staff at Retford. Pte F Sly, Sherwood Foresters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) A newspaper report of Robert's death in 1918 (see below) mentions that his brother Allen, 'Royal North Lancs.', was in hospital in Halifax (Yorkshire) and there is a casualty record for 22117 Corporal A Sly, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who was admitted to No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 21 March 1918. According to the same newspaper report, Fred had been discharged ('unfit') from the Coldstream Guards. A record has been traced for a Fred Sly, 27992 Private 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment, who enlisted on 13 July 1915 and was discharged on 19 May 1916 ('Sickness 392 xvi'). Awarded Silver Badge No, 77497, 9 December 1916. The same report recounted that George had been a prisoner of war in Germany for eighteen months. There is a record of a George Sly (b. 1896 Skegness, NOK Retford), 71624 Lance Corporal (prev. 1967 Private) 'D' Coy 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment), who was captured at Lens on 1 July 1917 and held at Douai Camp. Retford Times 21st June 1918, 'Bombardier Robert Sly' 'Bombardier Robert Sly, R.F.A., youngest son of the late Mr Allen Sly, Retford and of Mrs Sly, West Ashby, Horncastle, was killed in action on April 22nd last, at the age of 19 years. He was in the employ of the G.N. Railway Co. at Doncaster in the signal department, joined the Army at 17 and after training at Newcastle, crossed to France before he was 18 years of age. Then he was sent to Ireland, and whilst crossing the Irish Sea on home leave, his boat came into collision with a trawler and he lost everything and he was taken off by a destroyer. He came to Retford and after visiting his uncle, Mr G Sly, Spalding and his mother, returned to Ireland and then to France, where he had only been a fortnight, when he was killed. He was a fine young fellow, 6 Foot tall. A brother Cpl Allen Sly, Royal North Lancs, is in Halifax Hospital; another brother, Pte George Sly, Retford Territorials, has been a prisoner of war in Germany eighteen months: a third brother, Pte Fred Sly, Coldstream Guards, after service has been discharged as unfit. The deceased’s battery commander, has sent a letter of sympathy to Mrs Sly stating that he was buried with full military honours. Bombardier Sly’s sisters are Mrs J H Hunt , Whitehall Road, Retford and Mrs Beauchamp, Thrumpton Lane, Retford.' The above report was also publilshed in the Retford & Worksop Herald & North Notts Advertiser, 25 June 1918. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his mother Sarah Ann Sly was his sole legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: named his mother Sarah Ann Sly.
