Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas William Southgate a cabinet maker, born 1838 in Melton Mowbray, Leics., and his wife Eliza Southgate (nee Perkins), born 1840 in Saxelby, Leics. Robert Weston Southgate was born in 1879 in Melton Mowbray, Leics., his siblings were, Eliza S. an assistant school mistress, born 1860, John T., a cabinet maker, born 1864, Elizabeth A., a schoolgirl, born 1866, Thomas W., a schoolboy, born 1867, Charles S. L., a schoolboy, born 1869 and Walter George, a schoolboy, born 1877, all his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, Leics., in April 1881 the family home was at King Street, Melton Mowbray, Leics. In April 1891 Robert was residing in the family home at 53, King Street, Melton Mowbray, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Eliza, John, Elizabeth, Thomas a printer compositor, Walter a draper’s apprentice and Alice M., born 1883 in Melton Mowbray, Leics. In March 1901 Robert was employed as a journeyman butcher and was residing as a boarder at 1, Bourne Cottages, Eastbourne, Sussex. In April 1911 Robert was employed as a butcher and was residing as a boarder at Woking, Surrey, his wife Agnes Louisa Southgate (nee Britt), born 1880 in Bexhill, Sussex, was residing at Stone Cottage, Bexhill, Sussex, this being the family home of her parents, William Britt a domestic gardener, born 1841 in Bexhill, Sussex and his wife Mary, born 1839 in Bexhill, Sussex, together with their children, Agnes Southgate, born 1903 and Thomas Southgate, born 1902, the latter two children were both born in Eastbourne, Sussex, and Mabel Southgate, born 1910 in Woking, Surrey. On Friday June 1st 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR” – LOCAL SOLDIER KILLED.- At the end of last week news reached Melton Mowbray that Pte. Robert Weston (Bob) Southgate, of the Leicestershire Regt., had been killed in action. Pte. Walter Butteriss, of the same Regt, (son of Mr C. Butteriss, Thorpe End), in a letter to Miss Southgate, stated that he had not written before because he wanted to make sure, but he had to tell them how sorry he was that Pte. Southgate was shot through the head, and killed instantly, on May 3rd. A letter had previously been received from another comrade stating that he believed Pte. Southgate had fallen, but he hoped it was not true. The deceased soldier was 37 years of age, was a member of a well known and respected Melton family, being the youngest son of the late Mr Thos. Southgate, and a nephew of Captain Perkins, Asfordby Road, with whom members of the family reside, and every sympathy will be felt for them in their loss. Pte. Southgate was married, and his wife is living with her parents in Bexhill. There are three children, the eldest son being in the Navy. The War Diary for today records. BOYELLES. The attack on the village of FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES was made on this day. There were three objectives, 1st SENSEE RIVER from approximately T.18.b.5.3. to U.2.b.5.5. 2nd junction of SENSEE RIVER and SUNKEN ROAD at T.18.b.5.3. – U.7.c.6.5. – U.7.d.7.8. – U.14.a.7.2. – U.4.c.4.3. The 64th Infantry Brigade to bomb south eastwards down HINDENBURG LINE. Two tanks were attached to the 110th Infantry Brigade. Zero hour was at 3.45am (summer time) and the attack started under a creeping barrage. The Battalion was disposed in two waves of two lines each, with a wave of moppers up behind. From right to left “A” Company (Lt. J. R. GLOVER) “B” Company (Captain A. G. ASTLE) “C” Company (Major T. L. WARNER) formed the line of attack each Company having a two platoon frontage. “D” Company (2nd Lt J. W. CORBETT) was drawn up in two lines, 60 yards in rear. The formation was two waves, each of two lines 10 yards between lines and 60 yards between waves with “D” Company as moppers up. The 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT attached on the left of the Battalion. On the right, the flank was secured by the possession of the HINDENBURG LINE as far as the BLOCK, beyond this the flank was to be secured by the 64th Infantry Brigade. Bombing attack down the line. The morning was very dark, sunrise was not until 5.23am (summer time), the dust and smoke from our own barrage and that of the enemy which opened almost simultaneously, making it impossible to see more than a few yards ahead. Direction was lost rather early and the line swung over to the right, being compelled thereto by the 18th Division on the left, crossing the front of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT and pressing then to the right. By 6.00am it became evident that the attack had failed. No progress had been made by the 64th Infantry Brigade bombers in the HINDENBURG LINE, and the front of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT was outflanked, in parts surrounded, and with a prospect of being cut off. The left flank (“C” Company) had been held up by excessive machine gun fire and took up a position in the sunken road running into FONTAINE-LES-CROISILLES through U.1.b. The remainder of the Battalion were on a line roughly 300 yards south of the jumping off place BROWN TRENCH T.6.a., N.36.c. and d. to road in O.31.c. Here the Battalion remained and at about 11.30am, it was reinforced by the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. This line was held throughout the day and consolidated. No assistance was given by the two Tanks during the attack, both of them breaking down. The following casualties were suffered by the Battalion during the action, Officers. Captain A. G. ASTLE and 2nd Lt. F. E. PRATLEY killed, Major T. L. WARNER, 2nd Lt. G. B. JOHNSON, 2nd Lt. R. J. HARRIS, 2nd Lt. R. L. SENNETT and 2nd Lt. P. H. HILL wounded, Lt. F. R. OLIVER missing believed wounded and Prisoner of War, 2nd Lt. F. W. H. CLARKE wounded and Prisoner of War, 2nd Lt’s F. B. PITTS and W. HARRIS Prisoner’s of War. Other Ranks. Killed 19, wounded 101, missing 168, died of wounds 3. Total 11 officers, 291 other ranks.