SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
"WE WILL REMEMBER THEM"

Private ROBERT APPLETON.

168, Northumbrian Div, Cyclist Coy, Army Cyclist Corps.

who died, aged 19, on the 24th May 1915.

Son of John and Annie Appleton, of 8 Manless Green Terrace, Skelton in Cleveland, N Yorks.


Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

At the census of 1901 Robert, aged 5, was living at 30 Green Rd and been born in Skelton.
His father, who worked as an Ironstone miner, came from Swainby N Yorks and his mother from Stanghow, N Yorks.
He had two sisters, Emma aged 7 and Edith 4.

The Army Cyclist Corps were formed in 1915 to encompass 14 existing cyclist battalions.
As the first units went overseas, they were broken up as divisional companies serving in something of a reconnaissance role.

Army Cyclist Corps.

Many "cyclists" were used as infantrymen.
Robert Appleton lost his life at the end of the Second Battle of Ypres, as it is known in British military history.
This encompassed four battles in the northern sector of the Ypres Salient.
The first of these began on 22 April 1915 as a surprise attack by the German 4th Army on the Allied front line.
This attack witnessed the first use of a new German weapon on the Western Front: poisonous gas.
Its deadly effect was carried on a gentle breeze towards French troops and as a result of its devastating effect on the French the German infantry made a significant advance into Allied territory.
During the next four weeks the Allied Forces of Belgium, France and Britain fought to hold off the successful German advance and to regain the ground that had been lost north of Ypres.
The fourth battle ended on 25 May 1915, the day after Robert died.

The Menin Gate bears Robert's name and around 55,000 others, UK and Commonwealth men who died in the Ypres battles and have no known grave.

His family placed the following notice in the In Memoriam column of the local newspaper-
APPLETON - In ever loving memory of our dear and only son (Robbie).
Cyclist R Appleton, age 20 of 5 Green Road, Skelton-in-Cleveland, who was killed in action May 24th 1915 (Whit Monday).
Ever remembered by his ever loving father, mother and sisters Emma, Edith and Winnie.
He did his duty.
He left his home in the flower of youth
He seemed so strong and brave
We little thought how soon he would
Be laid in a hero's grave."
(Source: North Eastern Daily Gazette - Wednesday 24 May 1916)