More about Robert Peters

Robert Peters was the son of Mr John and Mrs Agnes Boath Peters of 43 Annfield Row, Dundee and worked as an Iron Turner. He joined the RNVR in Dundee in 1912 and in August 1914 he was drafted to the Hood Battalion with many of his comrades from the Unicorn and served at Antwerp and at Gallipoli. On the Peninsula he suffered from a bomb wound which became sceptic and he was evacuated to the Hospital Ship Rewa in Mudros Harbour. On recovery he returned to the Hood Battalion but transferred to sea service in May 1916 and traveling to Britain onboard the Wahine. After a short spell in the Portsmouth Naval Base he joined HMS Waveney, a destroyer in the 7th Flotilla based in the Humber. In July 1917 he left the Waveney on a draft to the Naval Barracks at Chatham. On the night of 3 September he was sleeping in the Drill Shed which was being used as extra accommodation on the base. The German attempted their first night raid on Britain with four Gotha bombers. There was no blackout in force and the Dockyard was easy to spot from the air. Over 40 bombs were dropped on the area with two hitting the glass roofed Drill Shed. These two bombs caused the most casualties ever experienced by Britain until the Blitz of London in 1940. Robert Peters died in the attack and was buried along with 130 others in the Gillingham Woodlands Cemetery, Kent and is commemorated on the HMS Unicorn Memorial and the St Andrews Church Memorial in Dundee.

Robert Peters   C1/158 Hood Bn Royal Naval Division

DUNDEE SEAMAN WOUNDED.

Seaman Robert Peters resides at 43 Annfield Road, Dundee, and before the war he was employed as an ironturner.  He was called up at the outbreak of hostilities, and was with the Naval Brigade at Antwerp, going to the Dardanelles with the Hood Battalion.  He has been a member of the Dundee Naval Volunteers since April, 1912.

Dundee Courier 28th December 1915

PETERS—Killed on the 3rd inst., as the result of enemy action, A.B. Robert Peters, R.N.V.R., aged 24 years, second son of the late John Peters, 43 Annfield Road, Dundee.

Dundee People’s Journal 15th September 1917

Family Background:

Robert`s father was a Railway Weighing Clerk and the family lived at 9 Forest Park Road and then 43 Annfield Row, Dundee.