aikman

1/SCOTS GUARDS were engaged in heavy fighting in early November culminating in an attack by the Prussian Guard on the 11th. The Battalion was overwhelmed at this time according to Ray Westlake's book "British Battalions in France and Belgium 1914" having suffered amongst other casualties 430 ORs missing. "Survivors - Captain Stracey and 69 men, moved back to Hooge" on the 12th.

Service number 8025. His name is on Panel 11 YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL

From the CWGC database: AIKMAN, R Rank: Private Service No: 8025 Date of Death: 11/11/1914 Regiment/Service: Scots Guards 1st Bn. Panel Reference: Panel 11. Memorial: YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/924990/AIKMAN,%20R

There is a brief account of the Battle of Nonnebosschen at: www.westernfrontassociation.com/great-war-on-land/battlef...

The Medal Index Card at the National Archive for Private 8025 Scots Guards is in the name of Robert Aikman. discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D1... The Soldiers Who Died in the Great War database records him as born Bradford, although with no place of residence listed. Checking the census for England and Wales throws up only one match of a likely age to be this man. On the 1901 census the 8 year old Robert, born Bradford, was recorded at 23 Lofthouse Street, Bradford, Yorkshire. This was the household of his parents, Robert, (aged 44 and a Stone Mason from Scotland) and Sarah A, (aged 34 and from Bradford). Their other children are:- James............aged 11............born Bradford William...........aged 6..............born Bradford Thomas..........aged 1.............born Bradford The Aikmans also have a lodger, Isaac Painter, a 29 year old Private in the Regular Army. By the time of the 1911 census the 18 year old Robert is married, unemployed and a father of one, living with his mother-in-law at 132 Harris Street, Bradford. His mother-in-law is the widow, Charlotte Devine, (aged 38 and a Housewife from Bradford). His wife is Mary Aickman, (aged 18, out of work and from Bradford) and their son is James Aickman, (aged 5 months and born Bradford). Robert and Mary are stated to have been married a year. Also in the household is Mary's brothers, John Devine, (aged 22 and out of work, although stated to be a Warehouseman when in work) and Frederick Devine, (aged 15 and working in a Wool Warehouse). In such circumstances the Pre-war Army might have seemed a relatively cushy way out.

From www.cwgc.org www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/772855/AIKMAN,%20WILLIAM AIKMAN, WILLIAM Rank:Private Service No:240797 Date of Death:01/07/1916 Regiment/Service:West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) (2834). 1st/6th Bn. Panel Reference Pier and F e 2 A 2 C and 2 D. Memorial THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Additional Information: Son of Mrs. S. A. Aikman, of 29, Exeter St., Bradford. William was born in 1895 in Bradford. At the time of the 1911 census he was 16 and living with his family at 23 Lofthouse St, Bradford. He was a Butcher. His parents were Robert (55) and Sarah Ann Aikman (45). Robert was an out-of-work Stone Mason. William had an older brother, James, aged 21. And a younger one, John, aged 4 in 1911. The 1901 census reveals two more brothers, Robert then aged 8 and Thomas aged 1.

Joined 1/6th Battalion in October 1914.

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