Robert Kendall

Military Information

  • Date of enlistment: September 1915
  • Place of enlistment: HMS Unicorn, Dundee
  • Service no: CZ/6585
  • Rank: Able Seaman
  • Service Occupation:
  • Awards:
  • Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
  • Unit/Ship: Nelson Battalion, R.N. Div
  • Place of Death: 3rd Surgical Hospital Rouen, France
  • Age at Death: 24
  • Date of Death: 19.11.1916
  • Burial Country: France
  • Cemetery: St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen
  • Grave/Mem Ref no: O.II.O.3.

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth:
  • Place of Birth:
  • Address: 27 Westport, Dundee
  • Occupation: Grocer, Mr Paxton, Westport, Dundee
  • Mother:

    Mary Kendall (stepmother) 27 Westport, Dundee

  • Father:

    Robert Kendall, 27 Westport, Dundee

  • Siblings:
  • Spouse:
  • Children:

More about Robert Kendall

Robert Kendall   CZ/6585   Nelson Bn   R.N.D.

News has come to hand that A.B. Robert Kendall, R.N.D., died of wounds on the 19th November.  Deceased, whose relatives reside at 27 West Port, enlisted in September 1915.  He was employed as a grocer with Mr Paxton, West Port, before joining the army.  He was 24 years of age.

Dundee People’s Journal 25th November 1916

KENDALL—Died of wounds, on the 19th Nov 1916, A.B. Robert Kendall, R.N.D., only son of Mr and Mrs Kendall, 27 West Port.

Inserted by his chums on active service—Gunner James Peters; A.B. George M’Donald, R.N.D.; Peter Russell, F.R.A., R.N.; and Private William Wight, R.A.M.C.

Dundee People’s Journal 25th November 1916

Robert Kendall was the only son of Mr and Mrs Robert Kendall of 27 Westport, Dundee and he worked as a Grocer. The Peoples Journal of 23 November 1918 noted that he had sisters. In September 1915 he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training in February 1916. In May the RND began moving from the Aegean to the Western Front in France. Robert Kendal was drafted first to the Hawke Battalion but this was changed and he joined the Nelson Battalion in France in August. After training in Army tactics the RND began to experience the war on the Western Front and was being prepared to join in the Somme battle. One of the first day’s objectives of the British attack on 1 July 1916 was the capture of the village of Beaucourt, just to the west of the River Ancre. It was finally taken on 14 November by the men of the RND. This was the first major operation by the RND in France and established a reputation for being a “Can Do” Division. However, the casualty list was very long and over 30 local men were killed and countless more wounded. This was the worst ever day for Dundee’s Naval forces in the First World War and Robert Kendall was received a dangerous gunshot wound to his head. He died in the 3rd Surgical Hospital Rouen at 2am on 19th November 1916. He is buried in St Sever Military Extension Cemetery, Rouen in France.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie

Additional information kindly supplied by Michael Caldwell

Further information supplied by Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie

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