Early Life :

Education & Career :

City of London School and the University of London.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

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

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 :

Robert Abrahams lost his life during the Battle of the Somme in the summer of 1916. In late August and early September 1916 the 4th battalion was involved in training exercises in the Millencourt area. On September 10th it was called into brigade support at Shelter Wood which is North West of Fricourt Wood on the road toward Contalmaison. It was a place associated with the July fighting but by September it was the site of a number of Brigade HQ's and a 'congested camp'.

The particular part of the action in which the Division was engaged has been referred to as the battle of Flers-Courcelettes. The Division’s position was further forward than the rest of the front line leaving them exposed to German fire from the front and both sides. The plan was to advance on the 15th and to capture three objectives. All three were achieved but with heavy losses. The Germans had been subjected to heavy bombardment since the 12th. The attack was to be accompanied by a creeping barrage, and for the first time was supported by tanks.

On the evening of September 14th the battalion moved up into their assembly positions in Eye and Swansea trenches for an attack the following day towards Flers - Courcelette. They had to move up over open ground as the communication trenches were so crowded. The Germans opened fire on the battalion and caused some forty casualties. 2nd Lt Robert Bernard Abrahams was killed in this action on September 14th 1916 aged 24.

His body was never recovered and he is remembered today on the Thiepval Memorial the Somme battlefield. He is also commemorated on the magnificent illuminated scroll in the Common Room at the Law Society’s Hall in Chancery Lane. Also listed on the British Jewry Roll of Honour, 1914-1918.

Masonic :

Robert Abrahams was initiated into the Lodge of Tranquility No. 185 in 1915. He was "killed in action" according to the contribution record of the Lodge at the United Grand Lodge of England.

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
• Researcher : Gerald Mendoza