Pte 16593 Robert Harley McElnea

• Age: 30
• From: Bootle
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 23rd September 1917
• Commemorated at: Outtersteene Cc Ext, Bailleul
  Panel Ref: I.B.11

Robert Harley McElnea was born at Bootle in 1887 the youngest son of John McElnea and his wife Esther Sarah (nee Lennie). His birth was registered as Robert McElnea, no middle name, in the September quarter of  1887. Both his parents were born in Ireland, his father in Monaghan and his mother in Cork. 

His parents married on the 25th November 1869 at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, Cork. His father John was a 30 year old clerk, 119 Francis St, Dublin, his mother Esther S. Lennie was a 22 year old from Cork. A witness was James A. Harley. They had moved to Liverpool by 1871 where their thirteen children were born (except for Sarah, who was born in Cork in 1881), at least four of whom died young.  Robert was the eleventh of the thirteen, and the youngest surviving son. The family was Presbyterian. He had four sisters; Margaret, Jessie, Sarah and Celia and three brothers Jerome, John and William.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Gonville Road, Bootle. His father John 57, a grocer’s manager was born in Ireland, his mother, Esther, is aged 43 was also born in Ireland. They have eight children, Margaret 19, Jessie aged 13, Jerome L. aged 11, both scholars born in Liverpool, Sarah J.H, aged 8, a scholar born in Ireland, John J. S. aged 7, a  scholar born in Liverpool, William 5 a scholar born in Bootle, Robert aged 3, born Walton and Cecilia E. less than 6mths was born in Bootle. 

The 1901 Census shows that his parents are living at 177 Bedford Road, Bootle (the surname is transcribed as McElman). His father, John 63, is a grocer, and his mother, Esther, is aged 53. At the taking of the Census they have six children, Margaret 29, Jessie 23, Sarah 18, employed as a shop assistant, William 15 is an apprentice grocer, Robert 13 and Cecilia 10.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His mother died in 1915, aged 67.

01st Sept 1916 - awarded his first good conduct stripe for 2 years service

03rd Jan 1917 - to 242 B.D. for dental treatment

06th Jan 1917 - joined the front at Etaples

21st Jan 1917 - to C4 General Hospital, Dannes with influenza, rejoined 29th Jan

Robert was badly wounded on 22nd September 1917 with wounds to his shoulder, back thigh, buttocks and right arm. He died of those wounds the next day 23rd September 1917 at the Casualty Clearing Station. 

Robert now rests at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Ballieul where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

"TO THE HONOURED MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED YOUNGEST SON AND BROTHER (BOB).

Outtersteene was captured by the III Corps on 13 October 1914 but no Commonwealth burials took place there for nearly three years. In August 1917, during the Third Battle of Ypres, the 2nd, 53rd and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Outtersteene, and the first and last of these remained until March 1918. The hamlet was captured by the Germans on 12 April 1918, and retaken by the 9th, 29th and 31st Divisions, with the ridge beyond it, on 18 and 19 August, but the cemetery was not used again during hostilities. After the Armistice, over 900 graves of 1914 and 1918 were brought into Plots I, II and IV from the battlefields surrounding Outtersteene and from certain small cemeteries. In the Extension, on the East side of the Communal Cemetery, were buried 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Australia, who fell in August and September 1918. 1,147 German graves were initially concentrated into Plot III. These were later removed to Steenwerck German Cemetery. The extension was used again in 1940, for the burial of those killed in the fighting which covered the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force to Dunkirk. Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension now contains 1,393 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 499 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 14 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Second World War burials number 72, of which 23 are unidentified. The extension was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

SECONDARY SCHOOL "OLD BOY."

PRIVATE R.H. McELNEA DIES OF WOUNDS.

Private R.H. McEnea, K.L.R., youngest son of Mr. and the late Mrs. John McElnea, 20, Oriel-road, Bootle, was severely wounded in action on September 22 and died the following day at a casualty clearing station in France.

His death is deplored by the many friends that a lovable, generous, and warm-hearted disposition had gained for him. He was an "old boy" of Bedford-road Council school and of Bootle Secondary School, from whence he joined the staff of the Bootle Library, remaining there for some years. At the outbreak of war he was an esteemed member of the staff of Messrs. Lamb Brothers timber merchants. He joined September, 1914, the 2nd Liverpool Pals (with his brother, to whom he was very deeply attached). He went to France on November 1st, 1915, and had only obtained his first leave two months ago. He is buried at a military cemetery in France.

A further newspaper reported Robert's death:

Private R.H. McEnea, K.L.R., youngest son of Mr. and the late Mrs. John McElnea, 20, Oriel-road, Bootle, died on September 23rd of wounds sustained in action on the previous day. He was an "old boy" of Bootle Secondary School and at the outbreak of war was in the service of Messrs. Lamb Bros. timber merchants. Previously he had been for some years on the Borough Library staff.  

A letter dated 25th January 1918 from his father "in his 80th year" requested the return of Robert's pay book as it contained his Will.

His personal effects were returned to the family in February 1918 and included letters, photographs, a reliigious book, steel mirror, wallet, pocket lamp and artificial dentures.

His medals were sent to his father at 20 Oriel Road, Bootle in July 1919.

Robert now rests at Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Ballieul where his headstone bears the poignant epitaph:

"TO THE HONOURED MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED YOUNGEST SON AND BROTHER (BOB).

Robert is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Bedford Road school

Bootle Secondary school

Bootle Civic Memorial

Trinity Presbyterian Church, Bootle.

Probate of his estate was obtained at Liverpool on the 9th February 1918 by John McElnea, city missionary . His effects were valued at £116, 7s 8d.