Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Stokes, a railway labourer, born 1862 in Kinoulton, Nottinghamshire and Elizabeth Stokes (nee King), born 1864 in Newark, Nottinghamshire. Robert Archibald was born on the 7th June 1899 in Harby, Leicestershire and baptised on the 16th July 1899 in the Parish Church, Harby, his siblings were Elizabeth Ann, born 1887, Gertrude, born 1889, Ethel, born 1891 and Hilda, born 1894, all his siblings were born in Harby, in March 1901 the family home was at Stathern Road, Harby. In April 1911 Robert was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Stathern Road, Harby, together with his father, a carpenter and his mother. Robert’s mother died from influenza and pneumonia on the 14th November 1918. Robert died from pneumonia and dysentery in Leith General Hospital, Leith on the 17th January 1919, the cause of his death was certified and attributed by the House Surgeon Leonard V. R. Becker, to the results of active service while a prisoner of war in Germany, he was buried on the 24th January 1919 in Harby Churchyard.
Robert attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 15th May 1917 in Nottingham. He gave his full address as 72, Wallis Street, Old Basford, Nottinghamshire, his age as 17 years and 342 days and his trade or calling as telegraph lad (signal box). He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his religion as Church of England. He gave his father, Robert Stokes of Shipmans Cottage, Harby, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 1¾ inches in height, weighed 106 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 30 and 32½ inches. His physical development was described as good. After attestation on the 15/5/17 he was transferred as Private, service number 94626 to the Army Reserve on the 16/5/17. Mobilized on the 7/7/17. Posted to the 85th Training Reserve Battalion on the 7/7/17. Transferred to the 9th Training Reserve Battalion, Rugeley on the 16/8/17. Posted to Booton Camp, Catterick on the 21/8/17. Transferred to the 52nd Graduated Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment on the 2/9/17. Posted to Ashford on the 1/11/17. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 2/4/18. Posted to Infantry Base Depot on the 3/4/18. Transferred to the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, and allotted the service number 82499 on the 6/4/18. Joined the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, in the field on the 2/5/18. Missing in action, in the field on the 27-29/5/18. Prisoner of War in Germany, confirmed in a letter on the 2/6/18. Died from dysentery and pneumonia in Leith General Hospital, Leith, affiliated to the Scottish General Hospital, on the 17/1/19. Robert was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Robert’s father Robert on the 13 September 1919, and was witnessed and signed by G. H. Stone, Clerk in Holy Orders, Harby Rectory, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Robert Stokes of Harby, Melton Mowbray. Mother of soldier, none. Robert’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 27 May-18 – CAUROY. At 1.00am a heavy bombardment was opened by the enemy, the camps at CHALON-LE-VERGER being subjected to gas shelling. At 1.30am the Battalion moved off from the camp and marched to CAUROY through dense clouds of gas. Positions were taken up in and around CAUROY and Battalion Headquarters established in the South of CAUROY. At 10.00am “C” Company went forward to reinforce the 9th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY but before they were able to reach the road the KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY had been forced from their positions and the enemy had crossed Route 44. The Company then took up a position in the AVANCEE DE CAUROY, reinforcing the 14th Battalion NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS (PIONEERS). “B” Company at the same time were sent forward to man the BOYAU DE LA SOMME and form a defensive flank on the left and to get in touch with the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT, who were reported to be holding CENTRE VAUBAN. Orders were here received that the command of the NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS was to be taken over by the Commanding Officer SILVER. “D” Company now took up, a position around the North West corner of CAUROY occupying BON DE LA CUVE, BON DU LAVOIR, RDT NORD and RDT CENTRAL. During the morning the enemy pressed forward gaining ground to a point EAST of AVANCEE DE CAUROY, and pushing “B” Company back to that trench. Bombing squads were organised and a resolute effort made to press the enemy back, with little success. During the afternoon the enemy continued his attack, and having firmly established himself in BOYAU BEAUSE JOUR, bombed his way into AVANCEE DE CAUROY. About 2.00pm another defence was put up by “B” and “C” Companies, and they were eventually forced back to CAUROY and the sunken road EAST of RDT SUD. At 5.30pm our left flank was reinforced by the 97th FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS who took up a position on the light railway WEST of CAUROY. This Company was placed under the command of the Commanding Officer SILVER. At 7.30pm the enemy attacked in force, driving the line back to the sunken road running WEST of CAUROY. There a stern fight ensued which lasted until darkness set in when the enemy were forced back on the right of the line. At this time the line ran along the sunken road WEST of CAUROY, with an outpost line in the sunken road EAST of the latter road and SOUTH of CAUROY.
The War Diary records: 28 May-18 – CAUROY. Orders being received, the Battalion with attached troop’s, evacuated the line at 12.15am, leaving rearguards to cover the withdrawal which was carried out without loss, and without the knowledge of the enemy. The Battalion reassembled at TOUR DE ROUGEMENT and made its way to a CAMP near LUTHERNAY FARM, where it remained in Brigade Reserve. The arrival was timed at about 4.30am. At 7.30am the Battalion was roused to find the camp being heavily fired upon by machine guns from the enemy who had gained the ridge surrounding the camp, and under heavy fire the camp was hurriedly evacuated and a position immediately taken up on the ridge South East of BOUVANCOURT. (At this point Lieutenant Colonel C. E. R. HOLROYD-SMYTH was wounded and the command of the Battalion taken over by Major S. D. THORPE M.C.). In a short time the enemy attacked, and the Battalion with both flanks in the air, were compelled to withdraw, subsequently holding a line about 500 yards SOUTH of the old position. Severe fighting took place here, and as the enemy were well round the left flank of the Battalion, a withdrawal was ordered, and the Battalion moved in an orderly manner to a position on the ridge SOUTH of BOIS DE NEURVIEUX. There a continuous line was formed with the 14th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS on the right and the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the left. This position was heavily shelled, and although enemy patrols endeavoured to penetrate the line, no organised attack developed.
The War Diary records: 29 May-18 – MUIZON. At about 1.30am instructions were received to evacuate this position, and the Battalion marched to MUIZON, where a position was taken up along the SOUTH bank of the RIVER VESLE, WEST of MUIZON. At this point the Battalion (numbering about 6 Officers and 40 Other Ranks) came under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W. N. S. ALEXANDER D.S.O. of the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. The Battalion moved to a position along ROUTE NATIONALE No.31, in close support to the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. During the morning the Battalion positions were heavily shelled. At about 2.30pm instructions were received to evacuate these positions, and under intense shell fire the Battalion made its way to ROSNAY where a position was taken up on the ridge SOUTH of ROSNAY, here the Battalion rested for the night.
During the operations of the 27th, 28th and 29th May the following casualties were sustained by the Battalion.
OFFICERS
WOUNDED
28th May. Lieutenant Colonel C. E. R. HOLROYD-SMYTH M.C.
Captain A. N. CLARK D.S.O.
2nd Lieutenant W. HUSNAND
27th May. Captain A. ROBERTS M.C.
2nd Lieutenant J. DAVIDSON
2nd Lieutenant R. WHILLIS
2nd Lieutenant J. SINCLAIR
WOUNDED AND MISSING
27th May. 2nd Lieutenant F. BURGESS
MISSING
27th May. 2nd Lieutenant E. JOICEY
Captain S. S. HERBERT M.C.
2nd Lieutenant V. G. DAVIES
28th May. 2nd Lieutenant J. DAWSON
Lieutenant R. C. GUTTERIDGE
2nd Lieutenant A. E. FOSTER
29th May. 2nd Lieutenant J. CARTER
OTHER RANKS
KILLED 21
WOUNDED 17
WOUNDED AND MISSING 100
MISSING 287.
On Friday July 12th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “HARBY.” – MILITARY NOTES. – Their parents have received official intimation that two more of our soldiers are posted as missing, viz., Frank Hayes and Archie Stokes. Deep sympathy is felt in the village for the relatives of all the missing soldiers, from here, now numbering four officially reported as such. – Pte. Clarence Kemp and Sergt. Major Pepper are both home on leave, the former from hospital where he has been after contracting trench fever shortly after his arrival in France, and the latter from Yorkshire. S.M. Pepper is still very lame from his cycle accident. – The latest recruit is Charles Coy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Coy, of this village. This is the fourth son to join the colours, all their sons now having done their share in the war. The youngest, Dan, who was badly gassed, has been discharged and is now home. – Fred Hayes, who lost his foot in action, has just returned from Birmingham with an artificial limb, and is able to walk quite well, though a serious wound in the thigh prevents him being quite free from a limp. He has also been discharged.