Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

France & Flanders covers all the dates and corresponding locations which are outside the official battle nomenclature dates on the Western Front. Therefore the actions in which these men died could be considered 'normal' trench duty - the daily attrition losses which were an everyday fact of duty on the Western Front.

Detail :

Captain Robert Williams Michell, R.A.M.C., died on July 20th, aged 56, of wounds received on July 3rd, while bringing in wounded men from No mans land. He was the eldest son of Richard Ferris Michell, of Truro, was educated at Caius College, Cambridge, and at Barts, and graduated as M.A.Camb. in 1889, M.B. and B.C. in 1894,and M.D. in 1899; he took the F.R.C.S.Eng. in 1895. After filling the posts of senior clinical assistant in the throat department and of house-physician at Barts, and house-physician of the General Lying-in Hospital in York Road, he went into practice at Cambridge. He served in the South African war and held the Queen's medal with three clasps. On October 25th, 1914, he took a temporary commission as lieutenant in the R.A.M.C., and was promoted to captain after a year's service. He served for some time on the hospital ship Asturias, and was on board her when a German submarine tried to torpedo her, but since May, 1915, had been attached to the Royal Garrison Artillery at the front. It is reported that when he was struck he said, "Never mind me, it is well worth it; we have brought in seven of the men." MEMORIAL TO DR. R. W. MICHELL OF CAMBRIDGE. IT has been suggested by many of his old friends that some form of permanent memorial should be instituted at Cambridge in memory of the late Dr. Robert Williams Michell, who lost his life during the war as a result of wounds received whilst rescuing wounded from No Man's Land on the Somme. A sum of money has already been guaranteed for the purpose of a memorial to one who will long be remembered for his unfailing qualities as a personal friend and adviser, as well as for his unselfish interest and assistance in connection with Cambridge rowing. It is proposed that the memorial should take the form of a challenge cup, known as the Michell Cup, to be awarded every year to the college boat club gaining most marks under a scheme that has been drawn up. The suggestion is that subscriptions be limited to £2 2s., which should be sent to Dr. C. H. S. Taylor, 3, Trinity Street, Cambridge. The Michell Cup, presented in 1923 in memory of Dr. R. W. Michell, is awarded by the CUCBC to the Boat Club giving the best performance on the river during the course of the academic year. Capt. Michell was the eldest son of Richard Michell, JP, of Glan Mor, Truro, & was aged 56 in 1916. On July 3rd, he was organising rescue parties for the men stranded out in No Man's Land after the July 1st attack at Thiepval, & was struck down by a piece of shrapnel which embedded itself between his shoulder blades - his second injury within a matter of days. He was lying out in the open for eight hours before another stretcher bearer party found him & brought him in. He was taken back to Guy's Hospital in London, & then to a private nursing home, where he died from the effects of his injuries. A married man with a young son, he ran a medical practice in Cambridge prior to the war, & his body was buried in a local cemetery with full military honours. He was also a Boer War veteran, & had survived an attack by a German submarine earlier in the Great War. His wife, Emily, was a New Zealander. He was apparently recommended for a VC, but it was not forthcoming. Source; BMJ GWF

Probate MICHELL Robert Williams of Brook House 9 and 10 Trumpington-street Cambridge captain R.A.M.C. died 20 July 1916 in France Administration Peterborough 5 Jnauary to Emily Sophia Michell widow. Effects £1985 15s. 7d.

Masonic :

We first see Robert in the masonic record at his initiation into Isaac Newton University Lodge No. 859 at Cambridge in 1897 where he is listed at 30 years old and as part of Caius College, Cambridge. He remains a member until at least 1909, but does not reveal himself in the 1910-1921 ledger. He went on to join Alma Mater Lodge No. 1492 in 1904, listed as a Surgeon and resident at 3 Trinity Street, Cambridge. The contribution record of this lodge shows that he "died from wounds 20th 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