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In memoriam

Lance Corporal Robert Henry Hill

 

 

Robert Henry Hill was born on 31 July 1897 at Riverview Gate Lodge, Londonderry, the second of five children of coachman Robert Henry Hill and his wife Mary Jane (nee Bleakley).

Hill enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Londonderry on 7 or 8 September 1914 (No.1157 – later Corps of Hussars No.71255). He must have lied about his age, because he was only 17 at the time.

He embarked for France on 1 May 1915 with D Squadron. The squadron served as divisional cavalry to the 51st (Highland) Division until May 1916, when it joined with A and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment. From May 1916 to February 1918 the regiment worked as corps cavalry to VII, XIX and V Corps. It was then reformed as a cyclist regiment and attached to V Corps for the remainder of the war.

On 5 November 1918 Hill was admitted to No.16 General Hospital, Le Treport, France, seriously ill with broncho-pneumonia. (One record states he had sustained an injury on 1 November, probably while with his squadron at Poix-du-Nord.) He died in the hospital on 10 November 1918.

Lance Corporal Hill was buried at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, Seine-Maritime, France, grave VIII.O.9A. His gravestone inscription reads:

71255 LANCE CPL.
ROBT HENRY HILL
NORTH IRISH HORSE
10TH NOVEMBER 1918

 

Londonderry City Cemetery

 

Hill's name is also recorded on the First World War Memorial at St Augustine’s Church (Church of Ireland), Londonderry.

 

First image kindly provided by Peter Bennett. Second image, by John McClenaghan, sourced from History from Headstones Derry-Londonderry group.