BORN HULL 1898. SON OF CHARLES ELSOM (1866-1943) & BETTY HEWITSON (1867-1922), OF 13, STAFFORD STREET, HULL (CWGC ADDRESS). SON OF AN ENGINEER. HE HAD THREE BROTHERS AND SIX SISTERS. HIS FAMILY LIVED AT 11 FERN VILLAS, ST PAULS STREET, HULL (1901 CENSUS), 15 NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, FOUNTAIN ROAD, HULL (1911 CENSUS) AND 13 STAFFORD STREET, SCULCOATES, HULL.
ROBERT ELSOM WAS A FORMER RECKITT’S WORKER. HE ENLISTED UNDERAGE AT HULL, ON 07/09/1914, AGED 15 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS. HE GAVE THE AGE OF 18 YEARS AND 9 MONTHS. HIS ARMY RECORDS DESCRIBE HIM AS 5 FOOT, 5 INCHES TALL, 112 LBS WEIGHT AND 34 INCH CHEST SIZE, GREY EYES, DARK BROWN HAIR, PRIMITIVE METHODIST RELIGION. SCAR ON LEFT CHEEK, ANOTHER SCAR OVER RIGHT EYE. HE JOINED THE 18TH HUSSARS A RESERVE CAVALRY REGIMENT. TRANSFERRED TO THE 16TH ROYAL SCOTS (LOTHIAN) REGIMENT. HE DIED OF WOUNDS, ON 22/03/1918, AGED 19. HE IS BURIED IN FRANCE (BAC-DU-SUD BRITISH CEMETERY, BAILLEULVAL, FRANCE)
HIS ELDER BROTHER, PRIVATE, HERBERT ELSOM SERVED IN THE 1ST LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT, WAS WOUNDED AND AWARDED THE SILVER WOUNDS BADGE. HIS OTHER BROTHER CHARLES ALFRED ELSOM SERVED IN THE ROYAL NAVY.
Thank You to Janet Wright, who sent the phototograph of Robert Elsom, on 02/02/2020.
