Fifth Generation

63. Robert William Smallwood BLABER¹²² was born on 7 October 1898 in Kirkee, Bombay, India.^{122,399,400,404,630} He was christened on 1 November 1898 at All Saints' Church in Kirkee, Bombay, India.⁴⁰⁰ In 1914 he was a Clerk.⁴⁰⁴ Robert served in the Army from 12 October 1914.^404,631,632 On enlistment on 12 October 1914 he claimed to be aged 19 years! (He would have been 16 years and 5 days). He served in the Royal Army Service Corps. He was enlisted as a driver, promoted to Lance Corporal 20 October 1914, and again promoted to full Corporal on 30 November 1914, and then to Sergeant 16 June 1915 and to Sergeant Major on 2 March 1916, service number T4/36258. He served in France in the Expeditionary Force from 12 July 1915 to 12 February 1917. On 17 September 1916 he was admitted to 51st Field Ambulance Hospital for Dental Work and was discharged from hospital on 18 September 1917. He reverted to the rank of Sergeant on 12 February 1917 when he was transferred to the Officer Cadet School of the Royal Field Artillery where he stayed until 16 August 1917 when he was appointed to a Temporary Commission in the Royal Field Artillery as a Second Lieutenant, service number B25/2536. He was promoted to Lieutenant of the Royal Field Artillery on 17th February 1919. He was awarded the Victory, Britain and Star medals.
He was described as 5'-5.3/4" tall, frsh complexion' grey eyes, brown hair, 144.1/2 lbs, 37.1/2" chest, scar on left temple on 12 October 1914. He lived at 19 Defoe Road in Tooting, Wandsworth, London, England in 1922.⁶³³ In 1924 Robert was an Engineer with the Burma Oil Co Ltd.⁶³⁴ He sailed from Liverpool to Burma on the 'Bhamo' on 23 August 1924. He was stated as intending to stay in Burma for more than 12 months. We presume that he was posted to Burma by his employer. In 1946 he was an Engineer.⁶³⁵ Robert Robert sailed from Liverpool to Calcutta on the 'Burma' on 19 May 1946. He travelled First Class. It is thought that this was a visit to England from his home in Burma, travelling via India. His address in England was given as 127 Queens Road, Wimbledon, London SW19. He died on 16 October 1952 at the age of 54 in Wimbledon, London, England.⁶³⁶ He had his estate probated on 15 January 1953 in London, England.⁶³⁶ Probate was granted to his widow, Nellie BLABER. Effects £14,857 2s 10d.

Robert William Smallwood BLABER and Nellie PAGE were married about 1929 in Tooting, Wandsworth, London, England.⁶³⁷ They⁶³⁷ lived at 184 Copse Hill West in Wimbledon, London, England in 1952.⁶³⁶ Nellie PAGE was born about 1898.⁶³⁸ She sailed from Liverpool to India on the 'Scythia' on 25 November 1946.⁶³⁹ The Passenger List stated that her ultimate destination was Burma, her place of permanent residence. Her last UK address was given as 127 Queens Road, London.