Archie Robb
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Archibald Robb was born in 1892 at Newark and was the son of William a barge master and Emma Elizabeth Robb née Beales of 2 Whitfield Street, Newark. His father William was born in 1859 at Newark, he died in 1912 and his mother Emma Elizabeth Beales was born in 1858 at Norwich, they were married ion 1879 at Nottingham and went on to have 12 children, sadly three died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving children were, William b1885, Hilda b1887, Harry b1889, Archibald b1892, Garnet b1894, Wilfred b1896, Ruby b1898, George b1902 and Edward b1903 all were born in Newark. In the 1911 census his father William is located at Nottingham, he is shown as being 52 yrs a barge master, he is on the barge 'Derwent' at Island Street Wharf, Nottingham Meanwhile his family are living at 74 Millgate, Newark and are shown as Emma Robb 52 yrs , she is living with their children, Hilda 24 yrs an upholsterer, Archibald 18 yrs a boat builder, Garnet 17 yrs a brewery worker, Wilfred 15 yrs a wood yard apprentice, Ruby 13 yrs a scholar, George 9 yrs a scholar and Edward 8 yrs a scholar. Archibald later moved to Barrow-in-Furness, where he was appointed to a position in the ship-building yards.
Private Archibald Robb enlisted at Ulverston and served with the 6th battalion King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment. His medal index card shows he first entered the Asiatic theatre of war on 13th June 1915. Whilst at Gallipoli he developed dysentery and was evacuated to Alexandria where he was treated but died on 26th October 1915 at the 19th general hospital Alexandria. He is buried in the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and commemorated on the War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Article published on 17th November 1915 in the Newark Advertiser:- Son of Mrs M.E. Robb, 2 Whitfield Street, Newark. As a boy was a scholar at Christ Church School. From there to the Trent Navigation Company’s dockyard, where he was apprenticed to the boat-building, serving his time. Newark, however, did not offer sufficient opportunity for him and he removed to Barrow-in-Furness, where he was appointed to a good position in the ship-building yards. This splendid position he sacrificed when soon after the outbreak of war he enlisted in the King’s Own Lancasters. He came home last Christmas and subsequently was sent to the Dardanelles. Letters home to his mother have revealed the hardships. In one of his letters he said he had not had a wash or shave for a month and as for clean drinking water, it was impossible to get it without risking their lives. As to be expected, he contracted dysentry, but it took ten days to get from Gallipoli to hospital at Alexandria. Died at Trawl-el-Waska, 19th General Hospital, Alexandria. Has two brothers serving, Harry, a private in the 2nd Lincs., now in France, who recently distinguished himself by trying to rescue a wounded officer. Also, William, onboard HMS Begonia.
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