ROBERT VICTOR STURGEON
24 June 1887 - 10 March 1916
At School 1898 to
Cpl 8298 17th Manchester Regt
Robert was born in Wilmslow, Cheshire and in 1891, aged 3, he was living at Grove Avenue, Wilmslow, with father Samuel, a Cashier, mother Elizabeth, elder sister Phoebe and brothers John and Harold. Robert's maternal grandmother, Letitia, was also living with them and they had one domestic servant. By 1901 the family had moved to 45 Holland Road, Chorlton cum Hardy, (now Zetland Road), and Samuel's profession was described as Cashier & Accountant (Company). By 1911 the family had moved again to 21 Range Road, Whalley Range and Robert was working as an Architect's Assistant. Robert had been articled to Alfred Ernest Woodhouse between 1903 and 1908 and became his assistant between 1908 and 1912. In 1913 Robert passed his qualifying exams and became an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects and, on the outbreak of war, was employed by the Co-Operative Wholesale Society on Balloon Street, Manchester. Robert immediately joined the 17th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, the 2nd City Pals, and is one of the Lance Corporals in the photograph of XXII Platoon C Company
Company shown right. The Battalion commenced it's training at Heaton Park, Manchester then in April 1915 moved to Belton Park, Grantham and then in July to Lark Hill Camp, Salisbury Plain, for final training before embarkation to France on 8 November 1915 from
Folkestone. The Battalion landed at Boulogne in the late afternoon and the following day entrained for Pont Remy, south of Abbeville. From there they marched to billets at Couin, undertaking training at various places along the way, and on 11 December entered the trenches at Fonquevillers. After a brief spell in the trenches the Battalion returned to Couin, then marched to Montrelet where they spent the rest of December and the first part of January in training. On 9 January 1916 they moved to Suzanne and on the 12th relieved the 16th Manchesters in trenches to the west of Maricourt Wood. The trenches were the 2nd line of defence and were in atrocious
condition, being thigh deep in mud. The Battalion spent the rest of January and February in and out of the Maricourt trenches until they were relieved on 18 March by the 7th Buffs and moved to
the rear of the lines providing working parties for the 89th Brigade. The Battalion suffered the usual casualties from shelling and sniping and on 10 March Robert was reported missing, it being thought he had been captured while on night patrol work. He was later assumed dead on this date.His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on Panel 14 of the Thiepval Memorial to the missing.
The Hulmeian – April 1916
Old Hulmeians and the War
We are very sorry to say that two Old Boys are reported missing in France. Second Lieutenant A C Dixon, 19th Battalion (3rd Salford) Lancashire Fusiliers, who is also believed to be wounded, and Corporal R V Sturgeon, 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment.
Manchester University Biography
Robert Victor Sturgeon
Corporal 8298, “C” Coy. 17th Bn. Manchester Regiment.
Killed in Action 10th March 1916, aged 28
Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Robert was born in 1887 at Wilmslow to Samuel and Elizabeth Sturgeon.
The Tech Registers show that Robert enrolled on a Special Class in Heat Engine Testing course in 1906-07. He is listed as a draughtsman living in Heaton Moor and working for Crossley Bros., an engineering firm in Openshaw. Other sources note him as being an Architect’s Assistant articled to Alfred Ernest Woodhouse between 1903 and 1912. In 1913 he passed the Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architect examinations going on to employment with the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Balloon Street, Manchester.
At the outbreak of war Robert enlisted into the 17th Battalion Manchester Regiment. His unit went to France in November 1915. He is believed to have gone missing during a patrol in the Maricourt sector on 10th March 1916.