Robert Still Burnett

Robert Still Burnet
Died 25th March 1918 age 22
Service No. 265261
6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders: Corporal
Lived at Police Station, 28 Gellymill Street Macduff

Robert Still Burnett was born on the 24th November 1895, at the Police Station, 28 Gellymill Street, Macduff. He was the son of James Irvine Burnett, police constable, and Mary Ann Still.
James Irvine Burnett and Mary Ann Still had six children in all, Margaret, James Irvine, George, Alexander, Robert Still, and James Irvine. Two children named the same, this indicates that one had died in infancy, and another child was given the same name, this was a common practice.

In 1901 the family are living at the Police Station Gellymill Street, and consisted of parents, James Irvine Burnett and Mary Ann Still, with four children Margaret (Maggie), George, Alexander Irvine and Robert.

Robert obviously did quite well at school, as by 1911 he is working as an Estate Factors clerk, there are only his parents James and Mary Ann, his brother Alexander, a chemists apprentice, and his younger brother James still at home. His older brother and sister George and Margaret (Maggie) had left home by this time.

At age 19, Robert Still Burnett joined the 6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, in September 1914 and by the 10th November he was in Le Harve, France, aged just 19, fighting on the Western Front.
It is not known if he was on his own, at this time, as his brothers George and Alexander had also signed up. Both Robert and George were wounded in October 1915 on the Western Front and their brother Alexander had been taken prisoner.

Robert had been part of the fighting for nearly four years and on 21st March 1918 the first battle of the Somme began, Robert was wounded, he died as a result of these wounds on 25th March 1918 aged 22

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