Robert Moss was born in 1896 in Normanton the son of William Moss and Annie, nee Taylor. The family moved to idle where William died in 1909 aged 35 years from heart failure arising from an accidental wrench whilst at work. Annie was widowed at 35 years of age and she returned to work as a wool condenser. In 1911 the family were living at 10 Mount Road, Eccleshill and Robert at 15 years of age was working as an apprentice hairdresser. Robert enlisted on the 11th of September 1914 as Private 16/92 in the 11th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own) which was formed in York on the 10th October 1914. He was in training at Ripon from where he sent a letter to his Sunday School teacher: “We are all keeping fit and well and anxiously waiting for the day when we shall be called upon to do our bit in the great struggle. “We are expecting being moved as

soon as some the new recruits get further forward with their training. “Eccleshill has done splendid as regards recruiting and we are delighted to hear of other friends of ours having joined the ranks. “It gives us pleasure to know that our ‘pals’ who are out at the front are still in the best of health; we wish we were with them. “We shall be paying another visit home before long and you may expect us down at the old school. “The bathing place on the river is one of our favourite spots; we usually have a swimming parade twice a week.” Robert’s Regiment landed in Le Havre for the Western Front on the 26th of August 1915. During the Battle of the Somme which began

on the 1st of July 1916 hewas wounded in the right shoulder and sent down the line to a base hospital. On recovery he re- joined his regiment and on 8 December 1916 the Shipley Times & Express reported: ‘Pte Robert Moss of the Bradford Pals has been admitted into Liverpool Hospital suffering from trench feet. He took part in the “Big Push” and was wounded in the shoulder on July 1st.’ After again recovering, Robert was involved in the Battles of Ypres 31st July to the 10th of November 1917. Robert was killed in action on the 20th of September on the first day of the Battle of Menin Road which occurred from the 20th to the 25th of September 1917. At some point during his service

Robert had been promoted to Lance Corporal and at the time of his death he was 21 years of age. His mother received a letter from Second Lieutenant D Hamilton which read “It is with great regret that I have to inform you of your son’s death. “He was not in my platoon but I knew him very well and all through I found him to be one of the best NCOs in the Company. “He was always bright and cheery. His platoon officer was killed by his side so I thought I might write and offer you my whole hearted sympathy in your great sorrow.” Robert is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial as his body was never recovered for burial. He left his effects to his mother Annie who received £3.9.8d on the 12th of February 1918 and a War Gratuity of £13.10.0d on the 10th of November 1919.

. Researched and written by Jean Britteon, to whom many thanks