Royal Highlanders of Canada
Lieutenant Robert McIntyre born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 11 April 1885. Wounded three times before succumbing to devastating wounds during Second Battle of Passchendaele, for which he posthumously earned the Military Cross.
Enlistment of Lance-Sergeant Robert McIntyre
Lance-Sergeant Robert McIntyre 418598 enlisted with the 42nd Battalion on 30 May 1915 in Montreal. Standing 5′ 9″ tall with fair complexion, blue eyes, and light brown hair. Twenty-nine years, 11 months of age at this time.
Wife Grace McIntyre of 1021 St Germain St in Montreal. The McIntyre’s came from Philadelphia so that Robert could enlist with the CEF. Less than half of the CEF Canadian-born at this time. American-born men still joining the CEF in 1918, rather than the US Army.
42nd (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Battalion
42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) organize February 1915 initially under command of Lieutenant-Colonel George Stephen Cantlie DSO. Cantlie on special leave of absence to Canada, 14 December 1916. He would return to command the 20th Reserve Battalion. Major R L H Ewing taking command in his absence. The 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) mobilize at Montreal, and they also recruit in Montreal.
The 42nd Battalion disembark England, on 19 June 1915 with a strength of 40 officers, 978 other ranks. Following a summer of training, arrive in France on 9 September 1915, with the 3rd Division, 7th Infantry Brigade.
Private Robert McIntyre promoted Sergeant on 26 September 1915, Shorncliffe.
Sergeant Robert McIntyre granted 9 days leave, 16 May 1916, and returned 25 May 1916 after granted 24 hour extension, just in time for the Battle of Mount Sorrel debacle.
Sanctuary Wood
The Battalion billeted in “A” Camp on the Reninghelst Road following the Battle of Mount Sorrel, and here after the roll called, found that the Highlanders had suffered a total of 283 casualties, of whom 3 officers and 52 other ranks killed in action or died of wounds.
The casualties included 10 officers, two of whom, Lieutenant L. DeK. Stephens and Lieutenant Paul H. Richardson, killed, while Captain Gordon Blackader subsequently died of his wounds. Officers wounded Captain Herbert Molson MC, Lieutenant P N McDougall, Lieutenant E R Pease, Lieutenant R L H Ewing, Lieutenant S J Mathewson and Lieutenant H G Birks.
Captain Herbert Molson MC
Captain Herbert Molson MC, rose to the rank of Colonel with the Headquarters Staff, and awarded the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1919. A former owner of Molson Brewery and a member of the Molson family.
At Second Battle of Ypres, afterwards discovered that Captain Herbert Molson’s skull’s fractured and he spent months in hospital before his recovery complete.
Lieutenant Henry Gifford Birks
Lieutenant Henry Gifford Birks, grandson of the founder of the Henry Birks and Son Ltd., Canada’s largest company of gold and silversmiths, Henry Gifford Birks destined to play a role in the family business and in the Montreal business community. He entered the business in 1911, became general manager in 1933, then president in 1944.
Sergeant Robert McIntyre Wounded
Sergeant Robert McIntyre, continued on duty after having been twice wounded, did excellent work and set a splendid example. Only some time later that the full significance and value of the defence of Sanctuary Wood by the 7th Brigade from June 2nd to 5th appreciated, and the Brigade received congratulatory messages from all sides.
Sergeant Robert McIntyre dangerously wounded and admitted to No 3 General Hospital in Boulogne on 14 June 1916. GSW shoulder, and soon returned to duty on 30 June 1916.
Sgt Robert McIntyre MM
Awarded the Military Medal in the field, 22 July 1916, London Gazette No 29719, dated 23 August 1916.
Third Wound Stripe
Wounded again during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, Sergeant Robert McIntyre MM admitted to Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guilford on 19 September 1916, GSW head and arm.
O.T.C., Bexhill
Sgt Robert McIntyre MM ceases to be attached to 3rd CCD on being discharged to Officer Training School at Bexhill on 19 March 1917.
Following the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Lieutenant William Rider-Rider captures Major Topp in several photos. Officers are inspecting German guns, taken at the fighting near La Folie Wood.
Major C B Topp, MC, second in command of 42nd Battalion, inspecting guns captured by them in Folie Wood.
Lieutenant Robert McIntyre MM
Sergeant Robert McIntyre MM appointed Temporary Lieutenant on 28 April 1917 at Shoreham.
A few months later, Lieutenant William Rider-Rider captures this mis-identified unit – the 13th Battalion. Soldier on the right recently identified as Corporal Alexander Giles, of the 42nd Battalion. 13th Battalion Scots outside funk-holes cleaning Lewis gun 22 July 1918.
Battle of Passchendaele
Major Norsworthy of the 42md Battalion decided upon a stealth attack and at 2 a.m. on 3 November 1917 fixed as zero hour. The attacking force comprised 7 Officers and 200 other ranks disposed into seven parties, each with a definite task. Party No. 2. Lieutenant Robert McIntyre and 25 O.R. to capture Pill Box at 28.D.5.b.3.3.
All parties in position and moved forward promptly at 2 a.m. The night exceedingly dark and the footing uncertain. The attacking parties came into action immediately. Numbers 2 and 3 met by heavy machine gun fire and suffered a number of casualties. The enemy engaged with rifle grenades and one gun silenced.
The Death of Lieutenant Robert McIntyre
The first message to get back from Lieutenant McCaskill at 2.35 a.m., who reported that all grenades had been fired and that he and Lieutenant Robert McIntyre endeavouring to drive the enemy out of the objective points, but so far had been unsuccessful. At the same time Lieutenant Robert McIntyre signalled by firing two green flares calling for support from the Stokes guns. Unfortunately, owing to short fuses these shells burst very high and without effect. About this time McIntyre, sustained severe wounds from which he subsequently died.
Very little information came back regarding any of the parties apart from those of Lieutenant Robert McIntyre and McCaskill, but it subsequently developed that the only parties toreach their objectives were those of Lieutenant Parkins and Lieutenant Cohen.
Lieutenant Robert McIntyre came to France with the Battalion in the ranks and wounded three times. He won the admiration and respect of all ranks, had won the Military Medal and awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry in this engagement although the award not promulgated until after his death.
Major Topp
Military Cross
Lieutenant Robert McIntyre MM died of wounds, GSW hip, No 44 Casualty Clearing Station, 3 November 1917. Robert’s wife Grace now living in Bridgston, Glasgow.
Robert McIntyre posthumously awarded the Military Cross, London Gazette No 30482, dated 18 January 1918.
Nine Elms British Cemetery
Often confused with the similarly named Nine Elms Military Cemetery in Thelus, France, Nine Elms British Cemetery. The cemetery begun and used by the 3rd Australian and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations when they moved to Poperinghe (now Poperinge), from Brandhoek and Lijssenthoek respectively, in September 1917.
Nearly all the burials in Plots I to IX came from these Casualty Clearing Stations, whilst they operated in this area during the 1917 Battle of Ypres, up until December 1917.
Plots X, XI, XIII, XIV and XV cover the dates between the beginning of March, 1918 and the 12th October, 1918, the period of the German offensive in Flanders, the British counter attacks and the final advance of August-September. The burials in these cases carried out almost entirely by fighting units.
The cemetery contains 1,556 Commonwealth burials of the Great War and 37 German war graves from this period. Also 22 Second World War burials in the cemetery, all dating from the Allied retreat to Dunkirk in 1940. The cemetery designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
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