Robert Hamilton Williamson died of wounds on this day in 1914
Robert Williamson was born in Stonehaven on 17 September 1893, the only son of Dr. George Williamson and Constance (née Gunn) of 256, Union Street, Aberdeen.
He was educated at Glenalmond College.
Robert was gazetted 2nd. Lieut. 3rd (City of Aberdeen) Battery, 1st Highland Brigade, RFA (TF) June 1911 and promoted Lieutenant June 1913.
After being attached for a year to a Regular Battery of Field Artillery, Robert gained a commission in the Royal Garrison Artillery at the Military Competitive Examination, April 1914 and was gazetted to the 118th Heavy Bomber Battery RGA on 10 June 1914.
He left for France early in November 1914 and by December they were in position at Fauquissart, near Laventie.
This map is from later in the war but the trench position scarcely changed between October 1914 and April 1918. The British front line can be seen (dashed light blue) with the German trenches shown in more detail in red. For the most part, because of the high water table, they were not trenches dug into the ground, but “breastworks” built up from it using sandbags, timber and (later) concrete.
On 6 December, Robert was wounded while making a sketch of the enemy’s position for his battery from an advanced observations post in a ruined church tower. Robert died of wounds in the Allied Force Base Hospital, Boulogne on 27 December 1914.
The Commanding Officer of 8th Brigade of Heavy Artillery wrote to Robert's parents:
"I had a great personal liking for him and thought very highly of him, both professionally and as regards his general disposition and demeanour with his other brother officers and the men, who all like him."
His Battery Commander wrote:
"I shall never forget your boy, either for his personal qualities or for what he had done for the battery."
It appears that he was repatriated and he is now buried in Allenvale Cemetery, Aberdeen
2nd Lieut. Robert Hamilton Williamson, 118th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery