Robert James Garwood

A Private with 1st Bn., Robert died on 24th of April 1915 at the age of 33. 

Robert was born at Toft Monks, near Haddiscoe, in 1881, a son of Frederick and Elizabeth Garwood. In 1881 his family lived at Haddiscoe and by 1891 were living at 9 Brickfield Cottages, Somerleyton.

On 18 May 1902 Robert married Edith Gertrude Spooner at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. Robert was a labourer and they both lived at 13 Arnold Street. By 1911 they were living at 76 Stanford Street, Lowestoft, and Robert worked as a labourer for the Great Eastern Railway.

Robert was working as a labourer for the Great Eastern Railway Company at the Harbour Works, Lowestoft, when he volunteered and joined the Army at Lowestoft. He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment. He arrived in France on 1 April 1915 to join the 1st Battalion. 

On 22 April 1915, at the northern end of the Ypres Salient near St Julien, the French and Canadian troops were subjected to a gas attack. This attack caused the troops to retreat and caused up to 5,000 deaths and 15,000 casualties. The Germans  advanced 3-4 km, broke the Allied lines and threatened Ypres. The 1st Battalion Suffolk Regiment moved forward and fought alongside the 1st Canadian Division to counter the German attack. 

The 1st Battalion was taken out of the line on 24 April and went into reserve near Frezenberg. However, they were immediately ordered to take up a position on the Frezenberg Ridge near the village of Fortuin. They took a position of the left flank of the Canadians. The Battalion was also exposed to a gas attack, suffering a large number of casualties.

The Battalion was taken out of the line on 28 April. They had suffered 400 casualties in the previous 10 days. The Battalion was heavily shelled and suffered repeated mortar attacks. The ranks had been severely depleted.

A note in the Great Eastern Railway Magazine (July 1915 Supplement No 2, page 1) states that Robert was killed in action at Hill 60. He was noted for having bund up the wounds of another solider, Private R. Cook, while under fire.