Name
Robert Ernest Tiffnell
7 September 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/12/1916
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4577
London Regiment
23rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAILWAY DUGOUTS BURIAL GROUND (TRANSPORT FARM)
VI. R. 3.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the St Paul's Walden memorial
Pre War
Robert was born on 7 September 1890 and he was born at The Holt, St. Pauls, Kings-Walden, and he was christened Ernest Roberte Tuffnell. His parents were William and Charlotte Tuffnell (née Wood).
His father had previously been married to Harriet Saunders, who he married on 27 July 1851. In the 1971, living in St Paul’s Walden, their children were listed as Fanny (13), George (11) and Frederick (9). Later, after the census Louisa (b c1873) and Florence Mary (9) were born and it is possible there were others. These would all be Robert’s half-siblings. Harriet died in 1875.
In the same census Charlotte, later Robert’s mother, was 20 living with her widowed father John, elder brother George and her son Frederick who was 2 months old. Charlotte was unmarried. She had another child Annie Wood on 7 June 1874, born in Whitwell.
Widowed William married Charlotte in St Paul’s Walden, Herts. on 11 February 1877 and in 1881 they were living at Whitwell. Present were William (55) and Charlotte (30), he was working as agricultural labourer and she as a strawplaiter. All William’s previous children had left home and are not listed; Charlotte’s were: The children listed were: Frederick Wood (10) and Annie (possibly Helen Annie) Wood (7) – they were listed as son and daughter ‘in Law’, but they would have been step-children, and later Robert’s elder half-siblings. William and Charlotte also now had children, Charles Tuffnell (3) and Arthur Tuffnell (2 months). They would become Robert’s older siblings and before his birth, older siblings Harry and Bertha were born. Robert (Ernest Robert) was born on 7 September 1890.
So, by 1891 the family were living at High Street, Kimpton. Present were William and Charlotte, with William working as an agricultural labourer. The children listed were: Frederick (previously listed as Wood now as Tuffnell), Charles, Arthur, Harry (7), Bertha (4) and Ernest (Robert Ernest) – 2.
In 1894, on 24 November 1894, Ann (Annie) Wood – Robert’s half-sister, married Arthur Seabrook becoming Mrs Annie Seabrook.
Charlotte died in 1898.
In 1901 the William Tufnell was 72, still working as a farm hedgeman, and living in High Street, St Paul’s Walden in the home of his daughters Louisa and Florence Mary Tufnell.
We have not yet found Robert in the census (nor as Ernest), but in 1911 he was 22, working as a general labourer for a builder, and lodging at 36 Lieth Road, Wood Green, Edmonton, Middx.
Robert enlisted into the 23rd Battalion. The London Regiment, as Private 4577 on 15 July 1915 at that time he was living at 48 Morrison Street, Battersea, London and working as a plasterer. He was embodied on the same day. At that time he was described as 26 years and 3 months old, 5’ 9 ½” tall, 126 lbs, with a 35 ½” chest when fully expanded and of good physical development. His next of kin was recorded as Mrs Annie Seabrook who was living in Whitwell, Herts.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War (SDITGW) database records that he was born in Hitchin, Herts. and was living in Battersea when he enlisted in Clapham Junction. However, although Hitchin was recorded as his birth location he was born in St Paul’s Walden (near Hitchin). Hitchin was probably given as the nearest large town.
Wartime Service
The 23rd Battalion Robert signed his for agreement to serve overseas on 15 July 1915 and after training landed in France on 29 March 1916 and proceeded to the Front on 16 April 1916 and joined his unit on May 9th.
He received a shrapnel wound to his right cheek on 16 September, and evacuated to Etaples, arriving on the 18th, moved to No. 6 Command Depot on the 29th. Moved to Le Havre 3 October and re-joined his unit 26th. Then killed in action Killed 22 December 1916.
Additional Information
His effects were a Testament, leather cigarette case, pocket book, letters, cards and a writing pad and were sent to Annie Seabrook ay Whitwell, Herts, prior to 16 April 1917 – by 9 October 1919 she moved to 8 Stanley Cottage, Batford, Herts.
Annie Seabrook completed the Army form for recording Robert’s living relatives, and it was witnessed on 16 July 1919. At that time she was living at 8 Stanley Cottages, Batford Road, Harpenden, Herts. It recorded no living parents, Brothers Charles John (41), Harry (36) Tuffnell, sister Bertha Moss (33) and herself as his half-sister (46)
After his death £- 14s 4d pay owing was authorised to go to his half-sister, Mrs Annie Seabrook, on 28 February 1917, then another £8 17s 9d on 16 April 1917. Later a war gratuity of £6 was authorised to be paid to her on 9 October 1919.
Annie Seabrook signed for his British War and Victory medals on 9 June 1922
Annie’s son William Arthur Seabrook served as Private 235088 in the Lincolnshire Regiment and was killed in action 11 October 1917.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
