RIFLEMAN ROBERT LAIRD: A/200040
17th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps.
Robert was born into a military family in 1881.
His father, John, was a serving soldier and at the time of Robert’s birth was stationed at the New Depot Barracks in Dorchester.
Robert was the youngest of nine children born to John and Agnes and he was the only child born in Dorset. The oldest children – Agnes, Margaret and Sarah were all born in Ireland, where their parents were married, and the family later lived in Kent, Devonport and Weymouth. Clearly the moves around the country relating to John’s military postings.
Although John was a career soldier, Robert did not follow in his father’s footsteps. While the rest of his family remained in Dorchester, Robert moved to Bridport where he was articled to the local solicitors Austen, Whetham and Guest. Aged twenty, he was boarding with the Hansford family at 32 Bedford Terrace and he remained in lodgings there until he enlisted with the City of London Battalion, London Regiment on December 1st, 1915.
Robert later transferred to the King’s Own Rifle Corps and with them, was posted to France, landing at Le Havre on March 8th, 1916. The 17th Battalion saw service along the Western Front and took part in the first Battle of the Somme, fighting at the battle for Thiepval Ridge and the Battle of Ancre Heights.
On October 15th, 1916, during the battle for Ancre, Robert died, suffering from shell shock.
He is buried at Tincourt New British Cemetery, Somme.
