Lance Corporal, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Service Number
44044
Born
about 1894 at Edinburgh.
Parents
Walter, (builder) and Helen Bald.
Date of death
2 September 1916 (Aged 22)
Grave
ll B.37 La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, Somme, France
Other Memorials
Inverkeithing Memorial.
Scottish National War Memorial (Edinburgh Castle)
Other Information
Son of Mr and Mrs Walter Bald, Priory Cottage, North Queensferry and husband of Hilda, whom he married on 18 November 1915.
Census 1911, at Main Street, Robert Bald (16) born Edinburgh, Apprentice Mason, son of Walter (39) builder and Helen (37).
In 1911 there were also Bald families at Priory Cottage (John and Mary and children – no Robert), 1 Post Office Lane (James & Christina and children – no Robert) and Craigdhu (James & Mary)
Although his service record appears not to have survived, it appears from his medal record, that he was a pre-war Territorial in the Highland Cyclist Battalion, which was based in Kirkcaldy, before being transferred to the KOSB.
His widow claimed a pension and this record shows that he was promoted Lance Corporal on 9 August 1916.
Died of wounds.
Grave of Robert Bald
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Scottish War Memorials Project
Census 1911
Soldiers Died in Great War
National Archives. Medal Card.
Widow’s Pension Claim (obtained by Alex Morris)
Here dead we lie, Because we did not choose
To live and shame the land, From which we sprung.
Life, to be sure, Is nothing much to lose,
But young men think it is, And we were young.
[Here Dead We Lie, A.E. Housman]
When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow,
We gave our Today
[Kohima, attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds]
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
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