Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Adam Durant, a farm labourer, born 1854 in Leicester and his wife, Phoebe Durant (nee Smith), born 1861 in Whitwell, Rutland. Robert was a packer in a factory and was born in 1896 in Billesdon, Leics., his siblings were, John William, a garden boy, born 1894, Mabel May, a hosiery trade winder, born 1897 and Lilian, a schoolgirl, born 1900, all his siblings were born in Billesdon, Leics., in April 1911 the family home was at The Green, Lubenham, Leics. On Thursday March 1st 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS” - The following local casualties are officially reported. All are Private’s except where otherwise shown. DIED OF WOUNDS. LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.- Durant, 2180 R. (Market Harborough). Robert first entered the theatre of war in France on the 25th February 1915, he was awarded the 1915 Star, British and Victory Medals. The War Diary for today records. SHELL STREET. During the morning a platoon from each of the visiting Coy’s took over a platoon frontage. Early in the afternoon the remaining six platoons left the trenches. At 5.00pm our relief by the 4th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT complete. During the relief the enemy’s artillery was very active against our communications trenches without however doing any damage. Lt WYNNE and 9 other ranks went on 10 days leave to England.