Robert's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Robert Schofield was born in Macclesfield in 1889, the son of Mary (nee Morris) and James Schofield, a labourer. In 1891, two-year-old Robert was living at 9 Green Street, Macclesfield with his parents and siblings James Henry (15), Mary Jane (13), and Lizzie (6). By 1901 the family had moved to 80 Lord Street, Macclesfield, and Robert's father was not at home on census day.
In 1911 Robert was a Private in the 1st Battalion of The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, in Havelock Barracks, Dilkusha, Lucknow, India.
WW1 SERVICE
Robert was either still serving or was in the Army Reserve when war broke out, and he would have been mobilised immediately. He was drafted to France in January 1915 with the 2nd Battalion of The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. He later served with the 7th Battalion and then the 9th Battalion, probably going with them to Salonika in October 1915.
Robert died of Malaria in Salonika on 3 October 1916.
COMMEMORATION
Private Robert Schofield is buried in grave ref. 507 in the Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Greece. His sister, Mrs Mary Jane Perry (Perrin), of 28 Newgate, off Mill Street, Macclesfield, asked for the inscription OUR DAILY THOUGHT AN EVERLASTING SORROW FROM HIS LOVING MOTHER & SISTERS to be added to his headstone.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private Robert Schofield and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Private Robert Schofield is commemorated on the Park Green war memorial.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
British Army Medal Index Cards (Ancestry)
British Army Medal Rolls (Ancestry)
The Long, Long Trail website
British Army WWI Service Records (FindMyPast)
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.