Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederic Carr an elastic trade worker, born on the 24th May 1859 in Belgrave, Leicester and baptised on the 23rd January 1860 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave (son of Robert Carr, 1826-1881 and Elizabeth Pole, 1825-1902) and his wife Sarah Carr (nee Jones, married on the 28th March 1880 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester), born 1862 in Plumstead, Kent (daughter of Matthew Thomas Jones, 1830 and Martha Flint, 1831). Robert was born on the 20th January 1885 in Belgrave and baptised on the 1st June 1890 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, South Wigston & Glen Parva, his siblings were, George, a schoolboy, born on the 6th September 1880 and baptised on the 7th November 1880 in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave, Sarah Jane, a schoolgirl, born on the 5th November 1882 and Clara, born on the 22nd February 1887 and baptised on the 1st June 1890 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, South Wigston & Glen Parva, the latter three siblings were all born in Belgrave and Bertha, born in the April quarter of 1890 in South Wigston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 1st June 1890 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, South Wigston & Glen Parva, also residing with the family was Robert’s maternal grandmother, Martha Jones (nee Flint) a hosiery trade stocking seamer, born 1831 in Leicester and baptised on the 25th September 1831 in All Saint’s Church, Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at Lucksrow Cottages, Countesthorpe Road, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire.
In March 1901 Robert was employed as an apprentice butcher and was residing in the family home at 5, Orange Street, Wigston Magna, together with his father an elastic trade overlooker, his mother and siblings, George, a hairdresser, Sarah, a hosiery trade knitter, Clara, an apprentice dressmaker and Archibald Fred, born on the 12th April 1900 in South Wigston.
In April 1911 Robert was employed as an assistant butcher and was residing in the family home at 98, Leicester Road, Wigston Magna, together with his wife Lilian Carr (nee Hassall), born on the 19th February 1885 in Wigston Magna (daughter of Henry Hassall, 1842 and Ellen Cawthorn, 1855) and their daughter Dora, born on the 24th July1909 in Wigston Magna.
Robert and Lilian had another daughter, Ena Lilian, born on the 9th June 1913 in Wigston Magna.
On the 15th April 1919, Robert’s widow Lilian, of 98, Leicester Road, Wigston Magna, Leicestershire was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of twenty-five shillings and five pence, for herself and her two children, commensurate on the 28th April 1919. On the 15th October 1920 this sum was increased to a weekly total of two pounds four shillings and two pence.
In June 1921 Lilian was residing in the family home at 98, Leicester Road, Wigston Magna, together with her children, Dora, an hospital inpatient and Ena.
FAMILY NOTES: Robert also had another younger sibling, Hilda born on the 22nd March 1907 in South Wigston. Robert was a journeyman butcher and worked for the Co-operative Society in Wigston, and before his marriage he lived at 85, Blaby Road, South Wigston. Robert died of wounds in a field hospital.
Robert’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Ripon, Yorkshire into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Royal Field Artillery. Gunner. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 201046.
Posted. To Royal Field Artillery, 33rd Trench Mortar Battery. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Admitted. To 31st Ambulance Train, IUO. 22/10/17.
Entrained. At Etaples. 22/10/17.
Detrained. At Calais. 22/10/17.
Wounded in action. In the Field. Date not known.
Died of wounds. 14/10/18.
Buried in Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Headstone inscription. “My God to thee I leave the rest, thy will be done.”
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Robert nominated his wife Lilian Carr as his sole legatee.
On Saturday October 14th, 1922, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – CARR. – In loving memory of Gunner Robert Carr, who fell in action October 14th, 1918. This day brings back to memory. A loved one gone to rest. And those who think of his today. Are those who loved him best. – From Father, Mother, Brothers and Sisters, South Wigston.
[recognitum XII-IV-MMXXIV]