Courageous Brethren - Robert Carson #299

Robert Carson’s Family:

Robert Carson was born on the 6th April 1879 in Craigavad and he was a son of William Carson JP and Isabella Jane Carson (nee Major) who were married on the 15th January 1874 in First Holywood Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church.  

William Carson from Holywood was a son of William Carson, a merchant. Isabella Jane Major from Holywood was a daughter of Thomas Major, a merchant.

The Carson family lived in Belfast; in Craigavad and in Carnalea House, Carnalea, Bangor.

William Carson was a solicitor in the firm of Carson & McDowell and he and Isabella had six children:

Isabella (born 7 November 1874 at 12 Wilmont Terrace, Belfast)

Margaret Malcolm (Meta, born 21 December 1875 in St Kilda, Craigavad)

William Harold (born 1 June 1877 in Craigavad; died 27 December 1957)

Robert (born 6 April 1879 in Craigavad)

John (born 14 July 1881 at 2 Princes Gardens, Belfast)

Allen Hunter (born 20 July 1888 in Kensington Villas, Bangor)

Their father, William Carson JP, died of cardiac failure at Carnalea on the 18th April 1900 (aged 72) and their mother, Isabella Carson, died on the 21st March 1928 (aged 77).

Education & Career:

Robert Carson was educated at Campbell College Belfast and Trinity College Dublin. He played rugby and was a member of both the Royal Ulster Yacht Club in Holywood and the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club in Bangor.

Being quite the sportsman he was part of both the 1st XV rugby team from 1894 to 1896 and the cricket team XI of 1895. Robert was married to Helen B. Carson, of Broadwater, East Malling, Kent.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth.

The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000.

The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army.

The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome.

287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916. Robert Carson was a career soldier, served in the Royal Regiment of Artillery and saw service in India. 

Detail:

Major Robert Carson was 37 when he died of wounds on 24 August 1916 at Martinsart having been wounded when he left his dugout during an enemy bombardment.  
Major Robert Carson was buried in Martinsart British Cemetery, France and there is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS

ST. JOHN XV, VERSE XIII

Major Robert Carson is commemorated on Bangor and District War Memorial; on the Royal British Legion (Bangor Branch) Memorial Plaque; in the Comrades of the Great War (Bangor Branch) Album in North Down Museum; in Campbell College Belfast; on the family grave headstone in Bangor Cemetery, Newtownards Road, Bangor; in the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club, Holywood and in the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, Bangor.

Citations & Commemorations:

During the Great War he was Mentioned in Despatches by Field Marshal Viscount French for gallantry and distinguished conduct in the field.

Masonic:

This Roll of Honour post has been created by the West Kent Military lodge for information, with special thanks to Cher-Leigh Eyles-Thomas for her time researching the content. If you would like to now more about the Lodge contact us here