Robert Barbour

Killed in Action on the 10/05/1917 at Monchy during the Battle of Arras

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 14/08/1914 and were part of the 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. Robert was Killed in Action at Monchy during a phase 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. The Battalion were involved in the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe, 3rd - 4th May 1917 a week before Robert was Killed. The Battalion were under artillery fire on the 10/05/1917. They were relieved by the 8th Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment in the early hours of the 11th May. This was later than expected. SEE PHOTOS x 7 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR MAY 1917 and PHOTOS x 6 FOR REPORT ON ACTION 3rd MAY 1917. Robert previously served with the Royal Engineers and Scots Guards. See photos for Robert's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects x 2, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Arras Memorial Panel List, map showing the ground captured during the Arras offensive, his name on the Arras Memorial, his former Regiments the Scots Guards and the Royal Engineers Cap Badges, the Northumberland Fusiliers Cap Badge, Robert's Pension Records x 2, Robert remembered on his Grandparent's stone in Old Monkland Cemetery and his Service Record for the Scots Guards - Service Number : 13197 (Enlisted 18/01/1915 - Discharged 28/01/1915) x 4. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 2 (Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser), photos x 3 of a Poppy placed by myself in July 2023 at Robert's name on the Arras Memorial, Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery and Arras Memorial taken by myself in July 2023 (my partner Linda can be seen in this picture), the 3rd Division Order of Battle x 12, more Newspaper clippings x 2 (Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1 and the Coatbridge Express x 1) and another photo of Robert's name on the Arras Memorial kindly donated by my friend in France, Thierry Dericbourg. THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN 2025, 2 YEARS AFTER I PERSONALLY PLACED THE POPPY AT ROBERT'S NAME ON THE ARRAS MEMORIAL.