Robert Archer

Killed in Action on the 28/04/1917 by an exploding shell near Gavrelle during the Battle of Arleux (part of the Battle of Arras)

The Battalion was part of the 188th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. Robert spent 4 months in Gallipoli in 1915. Robert was wounded in France on the 24/08/1916. He re-joined his Battalion on the 25/02/1917. He was Killed instantaneously by an exploding shell on the 28/04/1917 during the Battle of Arleux, 28th - 29th April 1917. This was part of the Arras offensive, (Battle of Arras), 9th April -16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive: the battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive ' often known as the Battle of Arras ' bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. SEE PHOTOS x 7 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MARCH - APRIL 1917. Robert is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) and Drumpellier U.F Church Rolls of Honour. From the Royal Navy War Graves Roll - Name: Robert Archer, Rank: AB, Birth Date: 27th September 1895, Branch of Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Cause of Death: Killed or Died as a direct result of enemy action, Official Number Port Division: Clyde Z/5 22 (3) Original Document Partially Indecipherable, Death Date: 28th April 1917, Ship or Unit: Anson Battalion Royal Naval Division, Location of Grave: Not recorded, Name and Address of Cemetery: No Information Received As To Location of Grave, Relatives Notified and Address: Father: Robert 1 Mitchell St, Coatbridge, Lanark. See photos for Robert's Newspaper clippings x 3, his name on the Arras Memorial, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Arras Memorial Panel List and the "Anson" Battalion Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for a picture of Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery / Arras Memorial I took in July 2023 (my partner Linda is in this picture), for 2 Poppies placed at Robert's name on the Arras Memorial, the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division Order of Battle x 16 (the Division he was with when he died) and another photo of Robert's name on the Arras Memorial kindly donated by my friend in France, Thierry Dericbourg.