Brave teen was city's first loss of Great War

Published on Saturday 8 November 2008 10:05

HE was Edinburgh's first fatality of the Great War.

Aged just 17, Royal Navy signal boy Robert Maxwell was killed when his ship struck a mine in the North Sea on August 6, 1914 – just two days after Britain had declared war on Germany.

Robert was onboard HMS Amphion, a minesweeper which was the first British warship to be lost in the Great War.

Robert's nephew, John Maxwell Tulloch, was told the story of his uncle when he was a little boy by his late mother, Agnes Maxwell – Robert's sister – who died aged 74.

John, 74, who took his middle name from his uncle, said: "I've known the story since I was quite a young child. I think it really stemmed from a picture of Robert on my mother's living room wall and I asked about him one day.

"It's such a terrible waste of a life and he was obviously a clever lad. I think he got a bursary at primary school to cover his fees to go to the Royal High School in Edinburgh.

"Coming from an ordinary working class background, I think he would have done very well if he had lived.

"It's upsetting, obviously, especially when it's a young person."

Edinburgh-born John, of Duddingston Park South, said Robert had lived at Livingstone Place in Edinburgh all his life before joining the Navy at the age of 16.

John, a father-of-two, added: "My mother always spoke about him. Robert was always interested in joining the Navy. He was also one of the first boy scouts in Edinburgh."

A service was held at the Capital's St Giles' Cathedral for Robert following his death. His remains were never recovered.

Robert's name features on a naval memorial in Plymouth and in the Book of Remembrance at Edinburgh Castle.

Robert's father, also Robert, was a joiner and a church officer at St Giles' Cathedral.

Agnes had created a plaque which included a photograph of Robert in his naval uniform, his three WW1 medals – the 1914-1915 Star, the Victory medal and the British war medal – and a sympathy letter from the King received by the family after Robert's death.

The plaque has been passed down the family tree to John.

John, who is retired but worked as a joiner and latterly as an architectural technician with the University of Edinburgh, recently reframed the plaque at Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh.

He added: "About ten to 15 years ago I was at the new Victoria Cinema in Edinburgh watching a film on the First World War and it showed the ship being blown up.

"I got a really strange sensation watching it. I remember feeling really odd knowing that he was on board."

After sinking the German minelayer Koningin Luise, tragically HMS Amphion struck one of the mines that the German ship had previously laid. Included in the death toll of 169 men were 18 German sailors rescued from the Koningin Luise.

HONOURING THE FALLEN

Remembrance Sunday events taking place across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

The Heart of Midlothian Memorial, Haymarket: A small procession by the Salvation Army Band will take place from Dalry Road to Haymarket Junction, where they will join about 750 others for the act of remembrance at 11am.

Royal British Legion Scotland, City Chambers and St Giles' Cathedral: At 10.40am around 250 people will march from St Giles Street to the Stone of Remembrance, City Chambers, for the act of remembrance and a wreath laying ceremony. The act of remembrance will be followed by a service in St Giles' Cathedral at 11.20am.

Central Branch of the Royal British Legion: Around 50 people will assemble at Heriot Hill Place at 9.45am before parading to St Mary's Church for a remembrance service.

Corstorphine War Memorial: Approximately 100 people will gather at the war memorial at the east side of Corstorphine Kirk at 10.50am. At 11.20am they will march to the church for a service of remembrance.

Kirkliston: At noon around 100 people, led by the Drambuie Kirkliston Pipe Band, will march from the Square to the war memorial at the junction with Main Street for a short service.

10th Leith Boys Brigade: At 10.35am around 60-70 boys and their officers will parade from New Kirkgate car park to the remembrance service at South Leith Parish Church.

RAF Spitfire, Jubilee Road, Edinburgh: About 60 people will march from the Airport Hilton Hotel, Eastfield Road, at 2.30pm to the memorial, where a 30-minute service will be conducted.

South Queensferry: At 10.40am around 100 people will march from the small car park in the High Street to the cenotaph at Roseberry Hall for a short service and wreath laying.

230 Transport Squadron RLC (V): Around 25 people will form up at the TA Centre, 126 Alnwickhill Road, Edinburgh at 10.30am. The parade will march to Liberton Kirk for a service.