Robert James Hines

A Private with the 2/8th Battalion, Robert died on 19th of August 1917 at the age of 34.

Robert was born at Oulton Broad on 30 September 1883, a son of James and Mary Ann Hines. He was baptised at Saint Michael’s Church, Oulton, on 24 February 1884. In 1891 his family lived at Clyde Cottage, Beccles Road, Oulton, and this was still their home in 1901 when Robert worked as a grocer’s assistant. Later his parents lived at Victoria Road, Oulton. 

On 19 October 1910 Robert married Eleanor Maria Andrews Sadler, at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville. Robert was a fish merchant, and they both lived at Carlton Colville. In 1911 they lived at 2 Victoria Road, Oulton Broad, and Robert was a fishmonger. In 1918 Eleanor married John Gooch and, later, lived at 1 Bridge Road, Oulton Broad. 

Robert enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 290429, and was posted to the 1/4th Battalion in France. Subsequently he was transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment, service number 260205, and was posted to the 2/8th Battalion. 

On 17 August 1917 the 2/8th Battalion moved into front line trenches at Ypres North, with their headquarters at Uhlan Farm. The battalion war diary records that one man was missing, believed killed, and three men wounded. It is presumed that the missing man was Robert, but the war diary gives no indication of what may have happened to him.

Robert’s cousin, John William Hines, served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and died in 1918. Robert’s aunt, Emily Pinkney, nee Sadler, died in the Waller Raid in 1942. 

Robert's name appears on Saint Margaret's War Memorial. Note, some sources give his first name as James.