Robert Plimpton was born in Cottingham, he was the son of Alexander Plimpton and Margaret who came from Scotland and that was probably the reason Robert enlisted in a Scottish regiment. He farmed at Rectory Farm, Walkington and one of his brothers, Kelburn Archibald was a Major in the East Yorkshire Regiment, his other brother Alexander Ashley was employed in the family oil seed business in Cottingham, but he also served in the war. There were also two Plimpton sisters, Eleanora and Winifred. The Plimpton family initially lived at Walkington Park (the big house behind the wall at the top of Kirk Lane) but later moved to East End. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders raised 16 battalions and lost 16,900 men; Robert lost his life, when he was shot by a sniper, at Tower Hamlets’ during the Battle of Passchendaele, which was part of the Third Ypres offensive.
His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing, Passchendaele Ridge, Belgium, which contains the names of 35,000 men whose graves are unknown. He is also commemorated on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster, and on the Beverley War Memorial, Hengate: there is also a memorial window in St. Mathew’s Church Rugby. He is commemorated on a plaque in Walkington Church: In loving memory of Robert Albert Plimpton, Captain Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Attached to Royal Highlanders, M. C. and Bar, Of Rectory Farm Walkington. Killed in action at Tower Hamlets, Flanders, aged 30, 27 Sept. 1917
Also on the Belfry door is an inscription ‘the church clock was purchased by friends of Robert A. Plimpton in his memory’. The Beverley Guardian for December 2nd 1916 reports; Captain, ‘Bob’ Plimpton awarded the Military Cross “Bob’ Plimpton, Captain of the Beverley Cricket and Bowling Club has been awarded the Military Cross and promoted captain. This information was given at the annual meeting of the club, although no details were available on the exploit by which Captain Plimpton won the distinction, but those who knew him were not surprised, he was known as a good sport and a thorough sportsman always at his best when he had his back against the wall. A better captain could not be found in Yorkshire. Later details of his gallantry were posted in the London and Edinburgh Gazettes.
‘He was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in action during a most valuable reconnaissance under heavy fire. Later he consolidated his position for over thirty hours and set a splendid example to his men. In 1917 he was awarded a Bar to the Military Cross for gallantry in action, leading his men in attack with great courage and determination. He captured his objective, an enemy machine gun and eighty prisoners. Later in conjunction with another officer he captured another one hundred and twenty prisoners’.
