A Cotton Thread - part 2
Corporal Robert George Pitman Royal Engineers
The Man Robert George Pitman (George) was born on Tuesday 21st July 1885 in South Cadbury, Somerset. Son of Robert George senior a Labourer and Jane nee Banfield, from Newfoundland, Canada. He was one of nine children, Henrietta born in 1884, Margaret 1888, Mary 1881, Hestor 1893, James 1894, Cecil 1896, Bertie 1899 and Linda 1902.
George was Baptised on 23rd August in South Cadbury and in the census of 1891 the family were living at 21 Crangs Lane, South Cadbury Robert senior now shown as a Domestic Servant. By 1901 aged 17 and after his schooling, George was working as a servant and living at ‘Blackworthy’ in Wincanton together with several other domestic staff.
George later began working for Post Office as a Skilled Worker, seemingly deployed anywhere in the country. The 1911 census, which appears to have been duplicated, possibly a misunderstanding at the time by his father, as his 27-year-old married sister Henrietta and entire family are listed, and shown living at Kings Road, Sherbourne, Dorset. George’s occupation is listed as ‘Postal Telegraph’. A second census shows George living at 2 Althorpe Street, Leamington Spa and working as a Wireman, Engineering Department, Post Office Telegraph.
During the second quarter of 1913 George married Minnie Cotton, sister of James Henry (Harry) Cotton in Leamington, one of Minnie’s relatives worked in a local florist and made a beautiful bouquet for the occasion. They appear to have had no children. In 1914 his appointment in the Post Office was confirmed appearing in the Edinburgh Gazette of 8th December 1913 with PO number 81764. George and Minnie lived at 6 Somers Place, Leamington Spa, with Minnie’s parents George and Sarah and brother Herbert.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, George enlisted into the Royal Engineers, most likely the Postal Service the same as his brother in law Harry Cotton. His service number was 71004 and he was promoted to A / II / Corporal and posted to Syria with the RE as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
Whilst in Syria he contracted Malaria, for which he received a small pension after the war. He also gathered a few small artefacts as souvenirs, including an Arabic identity tag and small Qu’ran, some beads, a necklace and other unidentifiable bits, possibly taken from dead Turkish soldiers.
George was Baptised on 23rd August in South Cadbury and in the census of 1891 the family were living at 21 Crangs Lane, South Cadbury Robert senior now shown as a Domestic Servant. By 1901 aged 17 and after his schooling, George was working as a servant and living at ‘Blackworthy’ in Wincanton together with several other domestic staff.
George later began working for Post Office as a Skilled Worker, seemingly deployed anywhere in the country. The 1911 census, which appears to have been duplicated, possibly a misunderstanding at the time by his father, as his 27-year-old married sister Henrietta and entire family are listed, and shown living at Kings Road, Sherbourne, Dorset. George’s occupation is listed as ‘Postal Telegraph’. A second census shows George living at 2 Althorpe Street, Leamington Spa and working as a Wireman, Engineering Department, Post Office Telegraph.
During the second quarter of 1913 George married Minnie Cotton, sister of James Henry (Harry) Cotton in Leamington, one of Minnie’s relatives worked in a local florist and made a beautiful bouquet for the occasion. They appear to have had no children. In 1914 his appointment in the Post Office was confirmed appearing in the Edinburgh Gazette of 8th December 1913 with PO number 81764. George and Minnie lived at 6 Somers Place, Leamington Spa, with Minnie’s parents George and Sarah and brother Herbert.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, George enlisted into the Royal Engineers, most likely the Postal Service the same as his brother in law Harry Cotton. His service number was 71004 and he was promoted to A / II / Corporal and posted to Syria with the RE as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
Whilst in Syria he contracted Malaria, for which he received a small pension after the war. He also gathered a few small artefacts as souvenirs, including an Arabic identity tag and small Qu’ran, some beads, a necklace and other unidentifiable bits, possibly taken from dead Turkish soldiers.
Following the Armistice at Mudros on 30th October 1918 and subsequent general Armistice on 11th November, George returned to the UK and was released from the Army on 31st August 1919 and awarded the 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal. He returned to Leamington Spa and re-joined the Post Office as a Skilled Worker.
He continued working for the Post Office in the Coventry area, including at the time, Leamington and by 1939 was living with Minnie at 50 Beauchamp Road, Emscote, Warwick. He appears to have been too old to have been called up during World War II and it is unknown if he served in any of the local civil defence organisations such as the Home Guard.
In 1945 aged 60 George retired from the Post Office and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal, listed in the London Gazette of 12th April 1946.
Sadly, George passed away during the first quarter of 1947 aged just 61, still living at 50 Beauchamp Road. Minnie survived a further 19 years and passed away in the second quarter of 1966 aged 80.
The Story For the story on these medals - see James Henry COTTON
He continued working for the Post Office in the Coventry area, including at the time, Leamington and by 1939 was living with Minnie at 50 Beauchamp Road, Emscote, Warwick. He appears to have been too old to have been called up during World War II and it is unknown if he served in any of the local civil defence organisations such as the Home Guard.
In 1945 aged 60 George retired from the Post Office and was awarded the Imperial Service Medal, listed in the London Gazette of 12th April 1946.
Sadly, George passed away during the first quarter of 1947 aged just 61, still living at 50 Beauchamp Road. Minnie survived a further 19 years and passed away in the second quarter of 1966 aged 80.
The Story For the story on these medals - see James Henry COTTON
Artefacts bought from the Sinai and Palestine Campaign during World War I by Robert Pitman, possibly from deceased enemy soldiers.
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 71004 A.2.CPL. R.G.PITMAN. R.E.
- Victory Medal: 71004 A.2.CPL. R.G.PITMAN. R.E.
- Imperial Service Medal: ROBERT GEORGE PITMAN
This page last updated 16 Dec 22
55