Miskimmin, Robert James (Bob)
Rifleman
No. 7019396, 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles
Killed in action on Saturday 24 March 1945 (aged 23)
Buried:
Venray War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands (Grave VIII. E. 2)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Donaghadee and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
Robert James Miskimmin was a son of Matthew John and Mary Miskimmin (nee Hogg) of Ballyvester Road, Donaghadee. They were married on 2 April 1919 in Newtownards Registrar’s Office and they had six children – Janet; Robert James; Thomas (served with the RAF and suffered from shellshock); Matthew (Matt); Molly (died in infancy) and Harry.
Robert James Miskimmin was the husband of Florence Violet Miskimmin (nee Bull), of Ramsbury, Wiltshire.
During the Second World War Bob Miskimmin served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles and he was killed in action during Operation Varsity on 24 March 1945. In this operation more than 16,000 paratroopers were parachuted onto the east bank of the Rhine at Rees, Wesel to support Operation Plunder – the crossing of the Rhine. When Rifleman Miskimmin was being parachuted in, he came down accidentally on the west side of the Rhine, in enemy territory, and was shot as he came to ground.
Rifleman Robert James Miskimmin (No. 7019396) was 23 when he died, and he was buried in Venray War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands. There is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
REST IN PEACE.
YOUR LOVING WIFE VIOLET
Rifleman Robert James Miskimmin (No. 7019396) is is commemorated on Donaghadee and District War Memorial. His daughter Valerie was born in September 1945, six months after her father died, and his mother Mary died on 4 December 1945 (aged 52).