Robert Geddes (1890-1915)
From Burnhope, served with the Royal Naval Division, killed in action 1915.
Robert Geddes was born on 3 February 1890 in Newbottle. His father was David Geddes (1851-1920), a general labourer who was born in Scotland. His mother was Priscilla Geddes nee Cummins (1853-1929) from Sunderland. His parents married in Houghton-le-Spring in 1874. They had nine children of whom six survived infancy. Robert had three sisters and two brothers.
In 1891 the Geddes family lived in Mary Street, Dubmire. At the 1901 census ten years later they had moved to New Pavilion Terrace, Burnhope. At the 1911 census Robert was living with his parents, a sister and a brother in West Wood Row, Burnhope. He was working as a coal miner in Burnhope Colliery.
Robert enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) on 5 September 1914. Five days later, on 10 September 1914, he transferred to the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve at Crystal Palace, London. He was rated as an able seaman and given the service number PZ/678.
Robert served in the Anson Battalion of the Royal Naval Division (RND). He was drafted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) and saw action in the Gallipoli Campaign. On 4 June 1915 he was killed in action at the Third Battle of Krithia. In this action the allied aim was to capture Achi Baba which commanded most of the Gallipoli peninsula. The RND’s role was to attack up Achi Baba Nullah also known as “Bloody Valley” supported by armoured cars on the Krithia Spur. A total of 94 members of his battalion were lost in this battle.
Robert has no known grave. He is honoured on the Helles Memorial to the Missing, Canakkale, Turkey. He is remembered in Burnhope on the Plaque 1914-18 at St John the Evangelist Church, Holmside Lane.
Robert Geddes was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in World War One.
For more information:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3054471/geddes,-robert/
North East War Memorials Project
http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=6482
Civil Parish: Lanchester
Birth date: 03-Apr-1890
Death date: 04-Jun-1915
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: Mary Street, Dubmire, Houghton-le-Spring (1891 census)
New Pavilion Terrace, Burnhope (1901 census)
West Wood Row, Burnhope (1911 census)
Religion: Church of England
Employment: Coal miner – hewer (1911 census)
Family: Parents: David Geddes (1851-1920), Priscilla Geddes nee Cummins (1853-1929)
Siblings: John Geddes (1877), Jane Geddes (1879), Mary Geddes (1882), Thomas William Geddes (1891), Priscilla Geddes (1894)
Military service:
PZ/678
Able seaman
Royal Naval Division
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Helles Memorial to the Missing, Canakkale, Turkey
Plaque 1914-18,St John the Evangelist, Holmside Lane, Burnhope
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
