Robert John BUGLASS

[stephen p nunn]

Dear Pals,

Mrs. Maldon and I are planning our next trip to Ypres. We always like to follow a story and pay our respects to a particular soldier. We have ordered a BWM in the name of:

19805. Robert John BUGLASS, Northumberland Fusiliers.

The story that we know so far is as follows:

Robert was born in about 1893 in Newsham, Northumberland, the son of Robert John (Snr.) and Hannah Mary Buglass. He had two brothers (William and John Walter) and two sisters (Sarah and Lizzie Jane).

In 1911 he lived with his family at 29 Double Row, South Newsham, and worked as a Coal Miner.

We are not sure when he joined up but he went out to France with the 10th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusilliers on 25/8/1915. (The 10th had been formed at Newcastle in September 1914).

Again, not sure of his movements between August 1915 and June 1917, but we know that he was involved in an act of bravery on 23/1/191? with a Corporal Scott. Apparently they "went out in broad daylight with shovels and dug a chap out who had been buried up, being all the time under heavy shell and machine gun fire".

Robert was KIA on 6/6/1917. He is buried at Wytschaete Military Cemetery.

He was entitled to a trio (15 Star).

Can anyone add anything for our visit to his grave please?

Thank you.

SPN
Maldon

[stephen p nunn]

Thanks to some friends I have a couple more things to add to this story now:

1). In 1917 the 10th fought in The Battle of Messines, The Battles of Menin Road, Polygon Wood and the First and Second Battles of Passchendale.

2). That Robert's name is on a teak wall plaque memorial in St. Peter's Church, West Sleekburn and that this might now be a private dwelling?

Regards.

SPN

Maldon

[stephen p nunn]

Just been told that Robert was KIA at Battle of Messines. The 10th was on the northern edge of the ridge close to the mines at Hill 60 and 'The Caterpillar' - presumably that was where he was KIA. Does anyone have a location map (old or new) of where the trench was please?

Thanks in advance.

SPN
Maldon

[spof]

Maldon

The war diary for the 10th NF is available to download from TNA

Glen

[stephen p nunn]

It has turned out that my Private Buglass (Robert John) is not the man who dug a chap out of the mud - that was a Private W. Buglass (who was also of West Sleekburn).

Regards.

SPN
Maldon

[stephen p nunn]

Have just seem a trench map of his position near Hill 60 and the Caterpillar. Looks like two of his colleagues (from the 10th) were killed at the same time - Privates Joynes (39082) and Logan (14428).

Regards.

SPN
Maldon