Carnduff, Robert
Rifleman
No. 17388, 13th & 12th Battalions, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Tuesday 26 March 1918 (aged 26)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Pozieres Memorial, France (Panel 74 to 76)
Newtownards and District War Memorial
Second Newtownards Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Cairnduff and in others Carrenduff.
Robert Carnduff was born on 8 March 1892 in Corry’s Deed, Newtownards and he was a son of Samuel and Ann Jane Carnduff (nee Orr) who were married on 14 March 1870 in Newtownards Registrar’s Office. Samuel Carnduff (aged 24), a widower from Mill Street, Newtownards was a son of Robert Carnduff, a stone mason. Ann Jane Orr (aged 21), an embroiderer from Movilla Street, Newtownards was a daughter of Thomas Orr, a grocer. Samuel Carnduff had previously been married to Anna McDonald (6 April 1864).
The Carnduff family lived in Movilla Street, Newtownards; in Mill Street, Newtownards and at 20 Greenhill Terrace (Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Website).
Samuel Carnduff worked as a general labourer and he and Ann Jane had at least nine children:
Unnamed female child (born 23 March 1872 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Samuel (born 2 November 1873 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Margaret (born 1 July 1875 in Frederick Street, Newtownards)
Elizabeth (Lizzie, born 8 April 1878 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Unnamed male child (Samuel, born 14 October 1881 in Milecross)
Unnamed female child (born 14 October 1881 in Milecross)
Phoebe Susanna (Febby, born 20 January 1885 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
James (born 16 December 1887 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Robert (born 8 March 1892 in Corry’s Deed, Newtownards)
Robert Carnduff was just 19 months old when his mother, Ann Jane, died of apoplexy in Church Street, Newtownards on 22 October 1893 (aged 46).
Robert Carnduff enlisted in Newtownards and he was stationed at Clandeboye Camp, Bangor when he and Sarah Kerr were married on 12 February 1915 in Ballygrainey Presbyterian Church. Sarah Kerr, a box-folder from 41 West Street, Newtownards was a daughter of Nathaniel Kerr, a mason.
Rifleman Robert Carnduff (No. 17388) served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and he was wounded during the Battle of Langemarck in August 1917. He was transferred to the 12th Battalion and was killed in action on 26 March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive. At the time of Robert’s death his wife Sarah was living at 39 Robert Street, Newtownards. Later she moved to High Street, Portaferry.
Rifleman Robert Carnduff (No. 17388) has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France; on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in Second Newtownards Presbyterian Church.