More about Robert S. Middleton

Robert attended King St School, Dundee before becoming an apprentice locomotive engineer with the Caledonian Railway Company at its Dundee running shed located at Roseangle, Dundee. At some point in 1916/17 he enlisted in the army, perhaps in response to a call for those with mechanical experience for un-named duties. Tanks at this time were secret weapons and men with technical experience were required to train as drivers. He trained at Bovington Camp in Dorset. He was posted to his regiment following an intensive training period and his unit proceeded to France in January 1918.

He was a driver for a Mark IV tank with a Daimler sleeve valve engine and armed with two naval guns and saw action at Lagnicourt, Morgies, Lesdain and at the Battle of the Selle River. He was withdrawn back to Bovington Camp towards the end of WW1 to train American tank crews before being demobbed in 1920. He returned to his home city and again worked with the Caledonian Railway Company at Dundee