First Shetland Loss of 1914.
From the Great War, there are over 600 men with Shetland connections, most of whom served in the army, buried in cemeteries and are commemorated on the memorials of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. They are spread across various countries, including France, Belgium, Turkey, Egypt, and Iraq, as well as home here in the United Kingdom. All were spread across the British and Colonial Regiments. Each one, should be continually remembered.
Back in 2016 on a visit to the Western Front, it meant a lot to visit special graveside one Shetlander.
Lance Corporal, Robert Lawrie Bolt, 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, was the first Shetland Army casualty of the Great War on the Western Front.
Although a resident of Lochgelly, Fife, Robert was born on 9th October 1884 in Lerwick. Son of James and Jessie Bolt, the family were formerly of Gulberwick. At the time of the 1891 and 1901 Census, stayed in Leith. Robert married Barbara Walker, 3rd January, 1908, in Auchterderran Fife. His battalion was in Edinburgh when war broke out. Robert had enlisted there and was a regular soldier.
The early phases witnessed a war of movement; within months becoming one of trench stalemate which we are today so familiar with. Five infantry divisions of British Expeditionary Force were on the Western Front by the end of August, 1914.
The 1st Camerons left, landing at Le Havre, 14th August. Robert’s Medal card shows this as the date of entry into Theatre of War. The Battalion formed part of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division.
The British army role at this stage was small. Across a battle line of 150 miles, it was along a central fifteen-mile sector that the British were engaged. The Battle fought astride the canal at Mons on 23rd August was the first major confrontation with the German First Army. Out manoeuvred and outnumbered they pulled back south of the Marne where Robert’s Battalion saw action.
After the famous ‘Retreat From Mons’, the BEF was involved in various ‘rear guard actions’. A gap then opened up between two wings of the German Second Army, with an advance over the Marne. Through it the BEF advanced towards the River Aisne, north-eastern France, setting up for the battle which began on the 13th of September.
That day, a bridgehead had been established across the River. But the countryside provided little protection. When morning sun arrived on the 14th, much of the BEF was hit by fire.
A German capture of a sugar factory and machine gun fire resulted in further casualties. Roberts’ Regiment formed up for a counter-attack under the cover of a wood. At 7 am, they advanced from trees, going through rifle and artillery fire. One Company to the right was shattered, but they managed to storm German trenches on the plateau above them. At this point, they had lost more than half their force and were low on ammunition. They moved back and to their start line. [1]
This day, Robert’s short war ended. In all, 600 officers and men of the Cameron Highlanders were lost this day. [2] They were relieved on 19th September and went into reserve. Fighting was abandoned on 28th September. It became clear that neither side would be able to penetrate well-entrenched positions. A sign of things to come.
Robert was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War and Victory Medals. He is buried at Vendresse Churchyard, Aisne. His wife Barbara passed away on the 16th of January, 1938, in Edinburgh. They had four children: James Lawrie, Margaret Brooksbank, Robert Lawrie, and Jemima Thomason.[3] There is a memorial stone to Robert in Lochgelly.
Sources:-
[1] 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders War Diary, 4th to 16th of September, 1914.
[2] Aisne 1914, by Jerry Murland, Battleground Europe, Pen & Sword, 2013, pp. 9- 10.
[3] Shetland Family History Society Robert Bolt File.
