Robert Cave MM

Robert was born in 1891 to John William and Emily Cave from Bull Bank, Newborough. He had four brothers (John William Jnr b1890, Edward b1895, James b1899 and Walter b1892) Robert was a Farm Labourer working on his father’s farm before joining the army. At the time of his enlistment Robert and his family were living on Bull Bank. The house was known as Berkeley House.

He enlisted in Peterborough on 4th September 1914, his records show that he was;

Age;                       23 years and 3 months

Height;                                 5ft 4"Chest measurement; 35 ¼ inches with an expansion of 4 ¼ inches

He had brown hair, fair complexion and grey eyes.

His form also identified him as being Church of England.

His medical also identified a scar on the left side of his back.

Robert was assigned to the 6th Bn Northamptonshire Regt the next day (5^th September). his Regiment was posted to France on 25th July 1915.

6^th (Service) Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment Battle of the Somme 1^st to 14^th July 1916

Between the 1^st and 5^th July the 6^th Battalion were involved in a series of actions and over the next few days and suffered numerous casualties.

On the 6th July the 6th Northamptonshire Regiment were taken out of the line. 14th July 1916 the battalion was sent into action again. They took part in an attack on TRONES WOOD. The battalion was to move forward to clear the wood of the enemy to its extreme Northern point.

In addition to the enemy’s artillery barrage which was kept on the southern portion of the wood, there were sounds of heavy rifle and machine gun fire from a point a little further in the interior.

In the action described below Private Robert Cave was awarded the Military Medal for his actions in clearing the German trench and Strong Point B using bombs thrown by hand.

5.10am. Roberts company were advancing N.E. and bombing up a trench running from S.W. corner of the wood, more bombs needed urgently. Only 100 of his company were left. collecting as many bombs as they could carry they went forward with instructions for more bombs to be sent us as soon as possible. Men were observed creeping up to the strong point through the undergrowth, whilst those attempting to get round by the trench were held up owing to lack of bombs. Heavy rifle and machine gun fire was coming from the strong point. With a fresh supply of bombs, the attack was pushed home and the strong point captured about 6.00 am. Many dead Germans were found at the strong point. Of the 17 regimental officers and 550 other ranks that had left the SUNKEN ROAD and entered TRONES WOOD just a few hours earlier only 3 officers remained unwounded and 247 other ranks.

5^th April 1918

The 5th April 1918 the enemy artillery was “quiet”. Later in the morning the Germans could be seen advancing and occupying a quarry.  At 3pm the enemy commenced an intense bombardment on the Northamptonshire’s front. This resulted in the forward posts being destroyed. The Germans proceeded to then advance upon the town and the 6th Battalions line to the North. The 6^th Northants delivered a counter attack to retake the sunken road back from German occupation.  The Northamptonshire’s advanced under a continual barrage by the enemy and succeeded in reaching within 20 yards of the sunken road. Here the battalion was halted by very heavy machine gun fire.. The Northamptonshire’s suffered several casualties in the counterattack including the commanding officer. It is certain that Robert was wounded in the advance on the German lines during the evening of the 5th. The Advanced Dressing Station was situated at CACHY. Their records show that 6 officers and 100 other Ranks passed through the station that evening. After basic First Aid they were transported to 43 Field Ambulance who had set up at Hospital Acheul, in the village of St Acheul close to Amiens on the Somme River. It is here that Robert succumbed to his wounds. The 43 Field Ambulance War Diary mentions that, the hospital was set up there on the 4th April 1918. The entry for the 5th April refers to; “Routine duties at M.D.S” Had so much death and horrendous injury become just “Routine”

John. W. Cave, Robert’s father, was notified of his death on the 20th April, Robert was 27 years old.

Robert only came home once, in 1917 on two weeks leave to receive his Military Medal. Robert had the award gazetted in the London Gazette on 21st December 1916.

Robert’s last resting place is the St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, France. A cemetery that was, in 1918 close to the Field Ambulance hospital, where he died. He is buried in section IX, Row F, Grave number 1. The headstone records indicate that Robert’s father and mother, William and Emily Cave, requested the following inscription be added to his gravestone; Fight the Good Fight 1. Timothy. VI. 12. He does not sleep alone. He is buried close to two of his comrades from the 6^th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment who died on the 5^th and 6^th April 1918. Both mortally wounded in the same action as Robert.