Name
Robert Cecil Ware
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/02/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2738
East Surrey Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CORBIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
I.C.40
France
Headstone Inscription
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH HAS GAINED A CROWN OF LIFE
UK & Other Memorials
Knebworth Village Memorial, Knebworth (Old), St Martin's Church Memorial, Knebworth (New), St Martin's Church Framed Memorial Knebworth (New), The British Legion -Knebworth & District Branch ROH, St Martin Church, Knebworth (New), St Mary & St Thomas Church Memorial, Knebworth Park, Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans, Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Alban, Not on the Preston Memorial, There is no specific Knebworth Park memorial
Pre War
Robert Cecil Ware was born in 1895 at Preston, nr Hitchin, the son of Lewis and Sarah Ware, and baptised on 30 September 1900 and St Mary's Church, Hitchin, Herts. He was one of five children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Ash Tree Bottom, Datchworth where his father was working as a gardener (not domestic). They had moved to 20 Westland Road, Knebworth by 1911 at which time Robert was working as a grocer's errand boy. He had worked for Mr Prince, the grocer, for five years before enlistment.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin and joined the East Surrey Regiment, serving with the 8th Battalion in France from 25 August 1915.
The circumstances of his death were reported in the Hertford Mercury and Reformer of 19 February 1916, featuring letters from 2nd Lt Hetherington of the 8th Surreys, M Bannister, Sister in Charge, 21st Casualty Clearing Station, B.E.F., Sgt Gastercole, 8th Surreys and the Chaplain of the 21st CCS.
Robert died from injuries sustained when he took cover in the mouth of a sap [tunnel] because of heavy shelling. The sap head was blown in and imprisoned him by the fall and although he was soon released he suffered from shock, two broken ribs and injury to a thigh. 2nd Lt Hetherington of the 8th Surreys wrote to his father saying "Although the injuries are serious the doctor told me there is every chance of his recovery". In the event, he was very ill when he was admitted to the 21st Casualty Clearing Station at Corbie and passed away at 3 o'clock in the afternoon of 1 February 1916. He is buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £5 10s and pay owing of £3 16s 8d. Pension cards exist in respect of his mother as dependant but do not show if any payments were made.
Robert is also commemorated on the family grave in Knebworth (St. Mary's) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO OF ROBERT CECIL (Ware) SON OF THE ABOVE [Sarah & Lewis Ware]
PTE. 8TH EAST SURREY REGT. WHO DIED OF WOUNDS FEBY. 1ST 1916 AGED 21 YEARS.
INTERRED IN CORBI COMMUNAL CEMETERY FRANCE
REVELATIONS 2. 10.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Paul Johnson
