Robert Greenshields Findlay

Killed in Action on the 07/10/1918 near Zantvoorde during the Final Advance in Flanders

The Battalion were part of 34th Division. Robert arrived in France in February 1918 and fell near Zantvoorde during the Final Advance in Flanders : 28th September - 11th November 1918 : The British Second Army and Belgian Army combine and finally break out of the Ypres salient. More ground is gained in a day that in the entire Passchendaele offensive of a year before. The Offensive continues through fighting in the Courtrai area and eventually well across the Scheldt. SEE PHOTOS x 18 FOR THE 34th BATTALION WAR DIARY 1st SEPTEMBER - 10th OCTOBER 1918. The War Diary states : "On the night 7/8th October 101st Brigade relieved 102nd Brigade on the Division Front. "A" Company 34th Battalion relieved "D" Company 34th Battalion M.G.C. who moved into position in support". The Battalion War Diary also states casualties for the month of September - "7 Other Ranks Killed in Action, 39 Wounded (1 Died of Wounds), 1 Missing. The following casualties were sustained by the Battalion during the month of October - 3 Officers Wounded, 6 Other Ranks Killed in Action, 63 Wounded". Robert is listed as FINLAY on the Coatbridge Memorial. The Reverend Archibald Chisholm referred to Robert's death in his children's address in the Middle UF Church on Sunday the 2nd of November 1918 - the 2nd last Sunday of the War. Robert is listed as falling on 06/10/1918 on the Family Plot (see photos x 2) and is also listed as 18 with the CWGC but 19 on the Family Plot. A huge thanks to Danielle Roubroeks for Robert's Grave photo. He is also remembered in the Gartsherrie Works Roll of Honour (see photos x 2). Robert is reburied in Zantvoorde British Cemetery (see Reburial photo). He is NOT listed on the Kipps Memorial. See photos for Robert's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Robert's Pension Records x 2 and the Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for the 34th Division Order of Battle x 15 (the Division he was with when he died), PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 34th DIVISION BOOK 27th JUNE - 4th AUGUST 1918 and PHOTOS x 12 FROM THE 34th DIVISION BOOK 7th AUGUST - 12th OCTOBER 1918 and Newspaper clippings x 6 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2).