Robert Killip Teare 1891-1918

poppyRobert Killip Teare was born 19 November 1891 in Ballabeg, Lonan, IoM, son of Philip Christopher Teare and Margaret Killip and in 1901 the family was living at their uncle’s house – Ballabeg Farm. In 1911 Robert was working as a horseman at Berrag Farm, Jurby, which was run by brothers Henry and Robert Quirk.

Robert enlisted on 11 November 1915 in Keswick where he was working as a farm labourer, he was recorded as 5ft 6¼ in tall, 147 lbs and with defective teeth. He joined the Border Regiment as a private in September 1916 and was initially posted to the 3rd Battn but then later to the 1st Battn.

Between December 1915 and July 1916 he was in UK and he married Sarah Mary Burrow on 29 June 1916. He was posted to France 16 July 1916 where he was wounded. He was in Topsham Gen Hosp between August and October 1916 with a gunshot wound to the cheek, which was reported as healing uneventfully but at the same time 10 teeth were extracted. After a furlough he was again posted to France from May to December 1917. Back home 16 December 1917 he was admitted to Runcorn Hospital for a few days with a septic thumb. He was absent from parade on 13 February 1918 and confined to barracks for 5 days before he was posted to France again embarking from Folkestone for Boulogne on 17 February 1918 arriving in Etaples on the 18th to join the newly amalgamated 7th Battn Border Regiment (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry).

In February 1918 the regiment was around Hermies, supplying working parties for the defences being prepared for the expected German Offensive. With the end of fighting on the Eastern Front many battle hardened German Divisions were assembled. On March 21st 1918 the German Bombardment began and the 7th Border ‘stood to’ in battle positions at Havrincourt as part of V Corps, Third Army. By the 22nd March it was decided to withdraw from the Cambrai Salient and on the 23rd they withdrew via Villers en Flos to Martinplouich and manned a ridge there, repulsing an attack by the Germans in this area.

On 23 March 1918 Robert Teare was reported missing presumed dead. He is remembered on the Malew Parish war memorial and the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. He had married Sarah Mary Burrow in Flimby Paris Church, Cumberland on 29 June 1916 and they had two children Eleanor Teare (born Maryport 25/09/1916) and John Burrow Teare (born Flimby 20/12/1917). His £14-9s-6d pay owing was transferred to Sarah M Teare his widow and sole legatee.

 

More information about 7th Battn Border Regiment (Westmoreland and Cumberland Yeomanry) http://www.freewebs.com/7borderandyeo/7borderandyeo1.htm

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