Pte 39412 Robert Walter Quilliam

• Age: 29
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

Robert Walter was born in Liverpool on 15th August 1888, and was the son of William Quilliam and his wife Jane (nee Bridson) who were married on the 7th April 1885 in Braddan, Isle of Man. Robert Walter was baptised at St Benedict's Church, Everton on 17th October 1888. The baptismal records show that the family residence was at 40 Eastlake Street and that his father was a Policeman.  

The 1891 Census the family are living at 40 Eastlake Street Everton. His father William is a Police Constable aged 31 born on the Isle of Man, whilst his mother Jane aged 32 was also born on the Isle of Man, children all born in Liverpool, Emily 4, Robert 2 and William 1. They have family member Robert Quilliam 27, also a police constable living with them. He died on 05th August 1917, his death was reported in the Liverpool Echo.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 38 Herschell Street Everton. Robert is 12 years of age. His father is a Police Constable born on the Isle of Man in 1861, whilst his mother was also born on the Isle of Man in 1859. Robert has four younger siblings, all born in Liverpool, listed as; William b.1890, John b.1893, James b. 1895 and Harriet b.1897 

The family were still living at 38 Herschell Street Everton at the time of the 1911 census. Robert is now 22 years old and is shown as a Tramway cleaner. His parents are both resident at the property and his father is shown as a Police pensioner. They have been married for 25 years and have had seven children all of whom have survived childhood. Robert has two sisters and three brothers listed as: Emily b. 1887 and a confectioner, William Henry now 21 and a clerk, John Charles now 18 and a clerk, James Douglas now 16 and a cotton sampler and Harriet Elizabeth now 14 and at school. 

He was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918, aged 29, during the German Spring offensive. He was serving in D’ Company, No.14 Platoon of the 19th Battalion when he was killed, the 20th Battalion having been disbanded in France in February 1918. 

The Battalion diary gives an insight into the events of the day: 

22^nd  GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

He was initially declared Missing on 22nd March 1918. His wife, Lena Quilliam of 47 Queens Road, Everton wrote to the International Red Cross requesting information but received a reply, sent 7th October 1918, that they held no information.

Robert's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930. 

A notation on the Pension Card dated 28th May 1919 states that Robert was presumed dead. Lena, living at 10 Viceroy Street, Everton, received a pension of £1-0s-5d for herself and their child. Lena received his Army effects, and a War Gratuity of £10.

The family suffered a second terrible loss when Robert's younger brother, Private 16682 James Douglas, (see his own biography) formerly a Liverpool Pal in the 18th Battalion who was killed in action on the 05th June 1918 with the 5th Battalion of the Kings Liverpool Regiment. He was 23 years of age and now rests at Houchin British Cemetery, France. II.F.26.

Both brothers are commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall. Robert at Panel 46 and James at Panel 52 and alongside his brother on the Granton Road School Memorial now housed at Breckfield Primary School.     

The family moved from 63 St Domingo Vale in 1920, there are no mainland deaths for father and mother, it is likely they moved back to the Isle of Man. 

His widow Lena, dob 18th Jan 1889 never re-married and appears on the 1939 register at 12 Baltic St, Walton Breck Rd with her daughter Mona Higham, dob 15th Aug 1915.

She died in December 1975 aged 86.

We currently have no further information on Robert Walter Quilliam, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.