Robert Gladman

ROBERT GLADMAN

Private G/20685, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)

Died 16th August 1916 aged 37

Buried Serre Road Cemetery No 2, Somme, France

Son of John and Ann Gladman

Lived 16, Princess Street, Heckmondwike

Robert was born towards the end of 1879 and was the second son of John Gladman and Ann nee Wood. John Gladman was born in Lincolnshire but moved to Yorkshire around 1872. He married Ann Wood in Holbeck, Leeds in 1876 and by 1891 was living on Walkley Lane, Heckmondwike with his wife Ann and 5 children. By 1901 the family were still on Walkley Lane and the family had increased to 6 sons and 2 daughters. In 1911 the family were living on Princess Street, off Cawley Lane.

John Gladman was a Joiner by trade, but Robert seems to have had various occupations in the textile industry.

It appears that John Gladman died in July 1916 just before the family received the news that Robert had been killed in action.

He served in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and was involved in the Battle of the Somme. He was killed in action on the 16th August 1916 and was buried in the Serre Road Cemetery No. 2. His grave is numbered XXV E13.

He was awarded the Victory and the British War Medals. He attended George Street Congregational Chapel and his name is commemorated on their Roll of Honour. His name is also on St. James’s Parish Church War memorial and St. Saviour’s War Memorial.

Of his five brothers, three of them (Frank,1890, Louis 1891 and Harry 1896 ) are also in the Heckmondwike Memorial Book, Louis, like Robert, making the ultimate sacrifice.{MA-058}

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