Robert Black
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Robert Black was born in 1884 at Basford, Nottingham He married Ethel Harrison in 1907 at Nottingham, they lived at 9 Carver Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham and had the following children, Nellie born 8th September 1908 and Henrietta born 7th January 1911. In the 1911 census the family are living at 3 Scotts Yard, Chelsea Street, Basford and are shown Robert Black 27 yrs a hosiery labourer, he is living with his wife Ethel 28 yrs a hosiery seamer and their children Nellie 2 yrs and Henrietta 3 months of age. Following his death his widow Ethel was awarded a pension of 18 shillings and 6 pence a week which commenced on 24th April 1916.
Robert Black had been a professional soldier prior to the Great War with the 3rd battalion Grenadier Guards but was discharged on 11th November 1913 having time expired in his service. On 31st August 1914 he re enlisted at Nottingham , he gave his age as 32 yrs and 178 days. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 17th December 1914 and and was wounded in action at Neuve Chapelle, receiving a gun shot wound to his left hand on 13th March 1915. He was returned to England for treatment on 18th March and treated at Lichfield Hospital from 20th March 1915 until 23rd April 1915. Following his recovery he went out to reinforce the 9th battalion Sherwood Foresters in Gallipoli on 28th August 1915. After a short while on Gallipoli he collapsed with exhaustion and while being treated on board the Hospital Ship 'Glenart Castle' travelling from Gallipoli to Murdos on Lemos he died at sea of Syncope . The following day he was transferred to shore for burial and was buried in East Mudros military cemetery.
Nottingham Post obituary (abridged), 25 October 1915: 'Black. Died of syncope October 16th on HM Hospital Ship Glenart Castle, Private R Black, 9th Bn Sherwood Foresters. 9 Carver Street, Hyson Green, aged 31.' Personal dedication on CWGC headstone: 'Sleep on dear one and take thy rest, they miss you most who loved you best.'
