Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edmund Bacchus a Joiner born 1867 in Woolwich, Kent and his wife Alice Bacchus (nee Seagrave), born 1871 in Rempstone, Nottinghamshire. Robert was employed as an Apprentice Joiner and was born in 1895 in Rempstone, Nottinghamshire, his siblings were Henry, born 1893, Nellie, born 1892, Edith, born 1897, Edward, born 1899, Minnie, born 1901, Millie, born 1902, William, born 1903, Ada, born 1905, the latter nine siblings were all born in Rempstone, Nottinghamshire and Alice was born in 1907 in Loughborough, Leicestershire. In March 1901 the family were residing at the home of Robert's maternal grand father George Seagrave a widower, and an Ordinary Farm Labourer who was born in 1834 at Prestwold, Leicestershire, his home being at West Street, Rempstone, Nottinghamshire, and situated in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Rempstone, All Saints. In April 1911 Robert was residing in the family home with his widowed father and siblings at 15, George Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. The family home was later shown as 45, Fearon Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire. His elder brother Henry also fell.
An account from the Battalion Diary for the 4th June 1915 states the following:- The Battalion was in the Messines Sector of Belgium with the headquarters in nearby Kemmel. Colonel Jones had found a new home for himself in the village - a small shop in a lesser street. He had been there for less than twenty four hours, when at mid day on the 4th June 1915, the Germans started to bombard the area with their deadly 5.9 inch shells. The Colonel was in discussion with Colonel Jessop of the 4th Battalion, just outside the house, with two orderlies Robert Bacchus (1441) a pre war Territorial from Rempstone, and Harold Blackham (2253) holding two horses close by. The very first shell that came over exploded amongst them. Colonel Jones was injured in the hand, neck and thigh, whilst the other three men were killed, so too the horses.
The War Diary for today records. KEMMEL. At 10.00pm 2 Platoons of the 7th Battn THE RIFLE BRIGADE occupied 94A replacing 1 platoon C Coy. Total casualties during tour in trenches, killed 4, wounded 10.
On Friday July 2nd 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment were announced by the official Press Bureau on Monday for publication:- Reported June 12th. KILLED. 5th Battalion (T.F.). Bacchus, 1441, Private R. Baum, 2278, Private A. J. Blackham, 2553, Private H.G. WOUNDED. 5th Battalion (T.F.). Ayres, 1750, Pte. F. G. Gilbert, 726, Lance Corpl. H. Price, 1766, Pte. F. Smith, 1256, Lance Corpl. W. Woodcock, 1647, Pte. M.