Browse this website Close this menu
This data is related to World War 1
Paymaster

Robert Muir Hindley

Service Number N/A
Military Unit HMS Cullist Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Date of birth 05 Nov 1884
Date of Death 11 Feb 1918 (33 Years Old)
Place of Birth Newark Nottinghamshire
Employment, Education or Hobbies He was educated at Magnus Grammar School, Newark and was then employed as a clerk by Peacock, Willson’s Bank (later incorporated with Lloyds Bank). He spent his spare time playing football for the Old Magnusians, cricket for Farndon and won trophies with Newark Rowing Club.
Family History

Robert was born on 5th November 1884 in Newark and was the son of Richard Edwin and Agnes McColl Hindley (nee Muir) of 90 Victoria Street, Newark-on-Trent. His father Richard was born in Newark in 1852 and his mother Agnes was born in 1855 in Scotland. They were married in 1884 and had three children, sadly one died in infancy. Robert had a brother Harold Brailsford Hindley born 1887. In the 1901 census the family was living at 56 Victoria Street, Newark. Richard was a maltster's clerk and living with his wife Agnes McColl and their two sons Robert Muir 16 years a bank clerk and Harold Brailsford 14 years. On Christmas Day, 25th December 1908, Robert married Jessie Talbot in Lincoln. They went on to have four children.By the time of the 1911 census the family was living on Newark Row in Farndon. In the home on the night of the census were Robert, 26 years of age and a traveller in building materials, his wife Jessie Louise 28 years and one of their two children, Margaret Irene who was under one month old. Their older child, Reginald Brailsford Hindley (born 30th August 1909), was with his grandmother Agnes McColl Hindley, 56 years. at 90 Victoria Street, Newark. At the time of Robert's death in 1918, Jessie Louisa was living at 55 Lime Grove, Newark-on-Trent, with their four children who were all under 7 years of age.Probate was proven in Nottingham on 16th March 1920: Robert Muir Hindley of 55 Lime Grove, Newark upon Trent, Nottinghamshire, Paymaster Lieutenant in H M Army (sic) died 11th February 1918. Effects £271. Administration awarded to his widow.Robert's brother, Second Lieutenant Harold B Hindley, served with the Machine Gun Corps.

Military History

Robert Muir joined the Royal Navy in 1915 and eventually applied for special service. He served in HMS Conqueror and then HMS Cullist, a ‘Q-ship’, which was a merchantman equipped with hidden guns designed to trap U-boats.HMS Cullist was sunk on 11th February off Drogheda by the German Submarine U97. Of the crew of 70, 43 were lost. Robert's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.De Ruvignys Roll of Honour 1914 - 1918:- 'Robert Muir Hindley Assistant Paymaster R.N.R. Son of Richard Edward Hindley of 90 Victoria Street, Newark on Trent by his wife Agnes. Born Newark on Trent on 5th November 1884. He was educated at the Magnus Grammar School, then worked as a bank clerk. Appointed Assistant Paymaster in August 1915, served two years as yacht patrol, then served in HMS Conqueror and HMS Cullist (special service in anti submarine warfare). He was killed when that ship was torpedoed on 11th February 1918. He was posthumous promoted to the rank of Paymaster. He married at Lincoln on 25th December 1908 Jessie Talbot, daughter of William Talbot of Farnsfield they had four children.'

Extra Information

The following is an extract from the Newark Magnus School diary of the Great War:'Thursday 14 February 1918: A telegram this afternoon informed Richard and Agnes Hindley of 90 Victoria Street that their son Robert had perished on three days earlier at the age of 33. They then had to relay the news to his wife of nine years, Jessie Louisa, 35, at 55 Lime Grove with four young children, all under the age of seven. A Magnus Old Boy, Robert worked in Peacock, Willson’s Bank (later taken over by Lloyd’s) while spending his spare time playing football for the Old Magnusians, cricket for Farndon and winning trophies with Newark Rowing Club. He joined the Royal Navy in 1915 and eventually applied for special service on the boat on which he met his death. The telegram said: ‘Regret to inform you that Assistant Paymaster R M Hindley was killed on the 11th inst. Letter follows.’ The Admiralty letter stated that his boat was torpedoed. History informs us it was the HMS Cullist, a ‘Q-ship’, a merchantman equipped with hidden guns designed to trap U-boats: 43 of the crew of 70 were killed when she was sunk off Drogheda by U97. A later communication added more anguish to Robert’s family by informing them that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had approved his promotion to Acting Paymaster, back-dated to 15 November 1917. Robert Muir Hindley is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. His brother Second Lieutenant Harold B Hindley, 30, was suffering from trench fever from serving with the Machine Gun Corps in France.'Report published 24th April 1918 in the Newark Advertiser :- 'Son of Mr & Mrs Richard E. Hindley, Victoria Street, Newark. Husband of Jessie Louisa Hindley, 55 Lime Grove, Newark. An old Magnus boy, he entered Messrs. Peacock & Wilson’s (now Lloyds) Bank and later took up employment in Nottingham and Newark. He was secretary of the Old Magnusians’ football club for some years and an exceptable cricketer. Playing with Newark reserve and more recently, Farndon C.C., for whom he bowled very successfully for several seasons. Also a prominent member of Newark Rowing Club. He joined the Navy in 1915, obtaining an appointment as an assistant-paymaster and was for two years on yacht patrol. Later he was on a battleship with the Grand Fleet, but applied for special service. While his new ship was refitting in December, he came home on leave. Leaves a widow and four young children. His brother, 2nd/Lt. R.B. Hindley, M.G.C. has recently returned from France with trench fever.'

Photographs

No Photos