Robert Bye VC grave (12th December 1889 to 23rd August 1962)

The Welsh are usually buried at home in Wales soil but I found this sergeant in a cemetery in Nottinghamshire. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery and I read his grave had been cleaned up a few years ago (still looks fresh.) He was married with two sons and two daughters and lies here with his wife.

Robert was born in Pontypridd in Wales but little is known of his life before the army. Remaining in obscurity would have ensued but for his actions while fighting in World War One. Aged 27 he was a Sergeant in the Welsh Guards fighting on the bank of the Yser Canal in Belgium (this was part of the Third Battle of Ypres.)

On Tuesday 31st the Robert oversaw the Welsh Guards waves of attacks on Germans who were defending a town. Defences were strong and German machine gunners and snipers were well protected behind steel and concrete strongholds. Robert saw they couldn’t make further advancements as the defences were so robust. The battalion left their trenches and moved across No Man’s before heading into a wood. They were spotted and came under such heavy gunfire had to dive to the ground. Without waiting for order Robert grabbed a bag of bombs and bullets and pushed on through broken branches and undergrowth and crept near the German position. He tossed in many bombs and when the machine guns were silent the battalion were safe and emerged from the woods. Further on they came under machine gun fire again and again Robert came to the rescue, rushing forward and with bullets whistling passed him he tossed bombs into the garrison.

The mayhem was not over. Later on Robert volunteered to take out a few men to attack a line of Germans protecting a position. Sadly some of his peers were killed or wounded but he survived, storming the position undaunted with all he had. He took another 60 prisoners. Thankfully the Sergeant’s conduit of bravery through the day had been witnessed and he was invested with Victoria Cross by King George V on 27^th September 1917.

After the war he worked as a coal miner for the Firbeck and Welbeck Collieries. He was 50 when World War Two commenced and he returned to the army, guarding prisoners of war until ill health (arising from his pit work) forced him to leave the army. He then served in the Home Guard and as a temporary police constable. Age 72 he died at his daughter’s home and was buried here where I’m stood with full military honours.

I had a coffee and a sandwich in the car before looking for this grave. With a bursting bladder I weed in a bush and saw a small vole looking at me. Veering away so as not to splash it a man walking by saw me and we pretended we hadn't seen one another. The white marble grave looked resplendent in the Sunday afternoon sun. If only a coward like me could do something as resplendently brave as this man. I did a stiff salute and walked away. Returning to the car I spotted a woman's war grave (this is rare.) Priscilla Taylor died in World War Two and the flowers on her grave show someone is visiting her. I did a second salute and left.

Some of Robert's ancestors...