Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Thiepval Memorial, Picardie | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.123 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 7D GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of John Alfred Gotch, M.A. (Hons.) Oxon. F.S.A., F.R.I.B.A., J.P., and Annie Gotch, of Weekley Rise, Kettering.He was the brother of Hester Perry Gotch and the grandson of Sarah Roby Perry and nephew of John Thorpe Perry and Francis Thorpe Perry. A cousin, Lieutenant Philip Joseph Crook, Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, was killed or died 7th November, 1917 and is buried in Gaza War Cemetery.
His portrait image can be found on Pages of the Sea.
Education & Career :
Rugby School and New College, Oxford (1909).
He was a solicitor articled to JT Perry of Nottingham.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 7/Sherwood Foresters |
Robin Hood Battalion |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
Detail :
John Cotterill Capt Roby Myddleton GOTCH 7th Bn (Robin Hood Rifles) KIA 1/7/16 First Day of the Battle of the Somme.
Described as ‘one of the coolest and bravest of officers’, Roby was killed as he helped to lay a telephone wire close to some German barbed wire:
No known grave, commemorated Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
When the 7th Foresters attacked as part of the 46th Div diversionary attack at Gommecourt on 1 July 1916 the first wave were accompanied by the CO ; Lt Col L A Hind MC and the Adjt; Capt Roby GOTCH. Both were killed in a shell hole 50 yds from the German lines whilst trying to find a gap in the enemy wire. The Robin Hood Rifles attacked at Gommecourt with 27 Offrs and 600 ORs. Only 5 Offrs and 90 men survived.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Apollo University No. 357 E.C. | Oxfordshire |
| Joined : | Nottinghamshire No. 1434 E.C. | Nottinghamshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
23rd November 1909 | 10th January 1910 | 8th March 1910 |
Joining member of Nottinghamshire Lodge No. 1434 on 4th December 1911. Noted as "Killed in Action 1st July 16"
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley