Pte. JUDGE R.C. L/7700 1st Battalion Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

Judge, Robert Charles. DoD: 23/02/1915. Age: 24. Husband of Ellen Kathleen Judge (Roberts), of Station Cottages, Horsmonden, Son of John Judge and Charlotte Judge (Sears) of Tabors Cottage, Horsmonden, Kent. Unit: 1st Btn. Queens Regt (Royal West Surrey). Occ: n/a. Cemetery: HAMBURG CEMETERY.

Robert was born in Staplehurst in 1885 and by 1901 the family had moved to Tabors Cottages, Maidstone Road, Horsmonden.

Prior to enlisting, Robert was a Porter at Paddock Wood Station.

Robert married Ellen Roberts in St Margaret’s Church on 22nd October 1910, by the Rev. HC Smith-Marriot and moved in with Ellen’s parents Charles and Harriet Roberts at 5 Station Cottages, Horsmonden.

Private Judge was reported missing on the 31st Oct 1914 following heavy fighting at GHELUVELT, South East of YPRES and was taken prisoner when the German advance overran the trenches following a strong counter attack to regain lost ground.

He was taken to Gustrow POW Camp in Germany and on the 23rd Feb 1915, sadly, he died of nephritis in the camp hospital.

Robert was buried in the 1914-18 section of the CWGC Cemetery in Hamburg, one of four permanent Commonwealth cemeteries in Germany

Today there are a number of living relatives of Private Robert Judge and in Horsmonden Mrs Dorothy (Judge) Parsons, ‘first cousin twice removed’ resides in her birthplace at Mount Easy Cottages at Bainden, Horsmonden, Kent.

Robert’s wife Ellen was sister of Pte 9740 Sidney Roberts, 8th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, who died of wounds in Salonika on 19th September, 1918 and also is commemorated on the Horsmonden War Memorial.