Family :

Education & Career :

Scholar of R.M.S.M., Twickenham.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

Following a winter in the trenches the BEF was prepared to take the offensive against the Germans. The location was Neuve Chapelle, a small village in the front line below Aubers Ridge near Lille. Aubers Ridge was a low but significant hill and the intention at Neuve Chappell was to punch through the German front line, occupy the ridge and exploit with cavalry. It was a battle fought by two Corps of the BEF, the Indian Corps and IV Corps both largely consisting of regular battalions. It was to be preceded by the most violent artillery barrage of the war to date. Unfortunately in what was to be the start of the 'learning curve' for the BEF the artillery barrage, whilst violent, failed in some parts ? a failure that was to be costly and which delayed the assault and allowed the Germans to recover. Whilst the men were exceptionally brave they became bogged down as German machine guns and artillery stopped the momentum of the assault and by the end of the first day (10th March 1915) they were digging in. The following day the assault was repeated with fresh battalions but with no success. By the 12th March the Germans had recovered their poise, had brought in reserves and were ready to counter attack.

Neuve Chapelle (10-12 March 1915) was the first planned offensive battle by the BEF in France and achieved limited tactical success but not the expected breakthrough. It highlighted the problem of delay in execution that allowed the defending Germans to regroup, often consequent on small incidents and errors. Having stabilised the situation following the German sweep into France and the counter attack that eventually established static trench warfare on the western front, there was significant pressure on Britain to take a share of the burden from the French (who had without question had born the brunt of the fighting). Although the battle was effectively over by 12th March, the official battle nomenclature included actions in other sectors up to 22 April 1915 including the significant actions at St Eloi and at Hill 60 (Ypres).

Detail :

2/LIEUTENANANT ROBERT HAROLD STRONG 2/EAST SURREY REGIMENT Lieutenant STRONG was attached to the neighbouring 3/Middlesex Regiment when they were involved in the diversionary attacks supporting the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. The diversion was South of Ypres in the sector that would later be the centre of the Battle of Messines Ridge in 1917. The War Diary of the 2/East Surreys records that on 12 March 1915; “7th Brigade planned to attack near Spanbroekmolen. Delayed until 16.10hrs and was a failiure. 2/Lt Strong who was doing duty with the Mx Regiment was killed by shell fire at the LAITERIE”. 2nd LIEUTENANT ROBERT HAROLD STRONG, 2nd BATTN. THE EAST SURREY REGIMENT, the eldest son of the late R. B. Strong, Esq., and Mrs. Turner, of 31, Pond Street, Hampstead, N.W., and the grandson of Mr. T. Cooper, of Heath, Bedfordshire, was born at Merton, Surrey, on the 15th August, 1886. At the age of fifteen he enlisted in the 2nd Battalion East Surrey Regiment, and gained the Army 1st Class Certificate of Education. He passed through the various non-commissioned ranks to Drum-Major. In November, 1914, he received his commission in the East Surrey Regiment and was posted to his old Battalion. He went with it to France and was killed in action near Ypres on the 13th March, 1915. Four of his brothers are also in the service, and two have been wounded. 2nd Lieutenant Strong was an all-round sportsman, being chiefly known for his prowess as a runner and a football player. He was the winner of a shield, a silver cup and sixteen medals, and was Battalion Champion of the Athletic Sports held in Burma in 1911, 1912 and 1914. He was also well known to his Battalion for his musical talents; and while stationed at Shurbo, Burma, he managed the musical part of the services in the Garrison Church. Writing of his death his Captain said: “With regard to the death of your son, 2nd Lieutenant Strong, of the Battalion under my command, I have to inform you that he was doing duty with the 3rd Middlesex Regt. at the time he was killed. I understand that he was walking round the billets when the enemy started shelling. He was observing the results of the bursting shells when one pitched close to him and mortally wounded him. I do not think that he suffered much before he died. He is a great loss to the Battalion, and his death is mourned by many who have known him as a good sportsman and a fearless soldier. He died for his country; more than that a man cannot do. He was buried in Locre churchyard in Belgium, and a cross marks his grave.”

Masonic :

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