Robert Percival Sands

A Private with the 1st Battalion, Robert died on 27th of July 1916 at the age of 21. 

Robert was born at Ludham on 10 May 1895, a son of John and Mary Anne Sands. In 1901 his family lived at the Police Station, Church Plain, Wells-next-Sea, Norfolk. In 1906-1907 Robert attended Reepham School and left when his family moved to Terrington. In 1911 the family lived at the Police Station, Downham Market, as Robert’s father was the Superintendent of Police. While the family lived at Downham Robert was a clothier’s assistant working for Mr. W.P. Wash. Later his parents lived at 33 Beresford Road.

Robert volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Norwich in September 1914. He joined the Norfolk Regiment, service number 13230. On 1 May 1915 Robert arrived in France to join the 1st Battalion. 

Robert received a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. He was admitted to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station, Bailleul, on 2 July 1915, and the next day he was transferred to No 14 Ambulance Train. Once recovered he returned to serve with the 1st Battalion. 

On 26 July 1916 the 1st Battalion moved up to assembly positions in Longueval. En route they were subjected to a heavy enemy barrage of poison gas shells. By 2 a.m. on 27 July they were at Longueval. At 5.10 a.m. a British artillery barrage began, and a German barrage fell on the 1st Battalion at Longueval. The German bombardment continued throughout the day. The battalion were to begin an assault at 7.20 a.m., but many officers and men had either been buried by the barrage or were casualties. Despite the casualties and problems, the battalion was able to make an attack and were able to capture some of the enemy trenches and took four officers and about 150 men prisoner.

The battalion’s casualties for 27 July were:

Officers: one killed, one missing believed killed, five wounded, three shell-shock
Other ranks: 50 killed, 148 wounded, 50 missing believed killed, 5 shell-shock, 4 gassed

Robert was killed in action on 27 July.