Corporal Robert Charles Flindt

• Age: 25
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 4TH KINGS
• Died on Tuesday 1st October 1918
• Commemorated at: Thilloy Road
  Panel Ref: D.23

Robert Charles was born in Liverpool on 27th September 1893 the son of Robert Edward Flindt and his wife Minnie (nee Jones) who were married in September 1890. He was baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Anfield in 1909. He was known in the family as Bert.
  
The 1901 Census finds the family living at 6 Springfield Road, Walton. His father Robert Edward is a Clerk born in Liverpool in 1869, his wife Minnie was also born in Liverpool. They have four children all born in Liverpool; Elsie b.1891, Robert, Leonard b.1898 and Dorothea b. 1901.

By 1911 the family have moved to 227 Lower Breck Road, All members of the family are still in the household and Bert who is now 17 is shown as a Clerk. 

Bert was working as a Clerk for the Liverpool Gas Company when he enlisted at St George's Hall on 31st August 1914, joining the 19th Battalion as Private 17333. He gave his age as 21 and is described as being 5' 7 and a half inches tall, weighing 119lbs and is of sallow complexion with brown eyes and brown hair. Following initial training at Sefton Park and Knowsley Hall, he left Liverpool via Prescot Station bound for Grantham on 30th April 1915. He trained at Belton Park, Grantham before final training at Lark Hill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He reached France with his battalion on 07th November 1915. 

Bert played his part in the capture of Montauban and also the fighting to free Trones Wood of German occupation. The next task was the village of Guillemont, a strongly fortified German held village on the Somme. The days events were dreadful for the Liverpool Pals who suffered close to 500 deaths on that one day. Bert was wounded on 30th July 1916, receiving a gunshot wound to his face. He was treated at a Casualty Clearing Station before he was admitted to No.4 General Hospital at Etaples. He was discharged on 03rd August 1916. He was subsequently admitted to hospital again on 28th September 1916, this time suffering from Influenza and remained in hospital until 16th October 1916. This absence saw Bet miss much of the fighting at the Transloy Ridges. 

On 26th December 1916 he received his good conduct badge for two years service. He was granted leave to the UK from 24th July to 06th August 1917. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 15th November 1917 and was promoted to the rank of Corporal on 06th April 1918. His Influenza returned and he was hospitalised with this between 18th May and 11th June 1918. Bert was then transferred to the 4th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment on 27th June 1918. He was granted leave to the UK between 03rd and the 17th September 1918. Upon his return he was wounded on 29th September and died of his wounds on 01st october 1918 aged 25. 

Bert now rests at Thilloy Road, Beaulencourt where his headstone bears an epitaph which shows how proud his family were of his service with the Pals. It is a simple yet evocative epitaph which speaks with pride:

"A LIVERPOOL PAL"     

Ligny-Thilloy was captured in March 1917 and Beaulencourt was occupied later in the same month. They were both lost on 24-25 March 1918 during the German advance, but recovered after severe fighting at the end of August.

The cemetery was begun by the 53rd Field Ambulance early in September 1918, and used during the latter part of the month and the early part of October by the 3rd, 4th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations. It adjoined a German cemetery of March-August 1918, from which 200 German graves have been removed to larger cemeteries and seven Commonwealth to Favreuil British Cemetery.

Thilloy Road Cemetery contains 240 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also ten German graves, nine of which are unidentified.

The cemetery was designed by J R Truelove.  

A number of family notices were placed in the Liverpool Echo edition of Monday 7th October 1918 under the header Died From Wounds:

FLINDT - October 1. died of wounds received in action, aged 25 Corporal R C FLINDT (Bert), K.L.R. (sans changer) dearly beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. R E Flindt 227 Lower Breck Road, (He gave his life that we might live)

FLINDT - October 1. died of wounds received in action, aged 25 Corporal R C FLINDT (Bert), K.L.R. Deeply mourned by fiancee Emily and all at 20 Bowley Road (My Hero)

FLINDT - October 1. died of wounds received in action, aged 25 Corporal R C FLINDT (Bert), K.L.R.dearly beloved brother of Elsie Molyneux  - Ever remembered by Elsie and all at 32 Bowley Road

FLINDT - October 1. died of wounds received in action, aged 25 Corporal R C FLINDT (Bert), K.L.R. Deeply mourned by his brother and sister Leonard and Dora.

Bert is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Liverpool Gas Company

Holy Trinity Church, Anfield

Soldiers effects to his father Robert Edward and pension to his mother Minnie Flindt.

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