Robert Bertie Wyldes

In 1911 Robert Wyldes was 15 years old living at 3 Adelaide Street. He was born in Stamford in 1896, the son of Frank and Selina Helen (nee Pick) Wyldes. Father was a clerk to Motor Engineers. In 1901 the family lived at 1 West End Villas. Robert was the eldest of 5 children – 2 brothers and 2 sisters. In 1911 Robert was an apprentice motor car trimmer. His siblings were still at school except 3 year old Marjorie. Before enlisting he was a coachman at Mr Pick’s in St Martin’s Stamford

Robert enlisted in May 1913 joining the 4th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment (Territorial Force). Private Wyldes (200206) was based ‘at home’ until February 1915 before joining the Expeditionary Force in France on the first of March 1915. During this posting he was wounded during the Battle of Ypres on the 25th May (a gunshot wound in the knee). After returning home in July 1915 for 8 months, he returned to France the following March 1916 remaining until July 1918 . During this posting he suffered from a bout of influenza and scabies. He was demobbed in March 1919.

After the war in1921 he married Hannah Stamp in Gateshead. They had 2 children. They lived in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne. By the time their second son was born in 1930 they were living in Foleshill, a suburb of Coventry, Warwickshire. Robert’s death in 1988 was registered in Coventry.