PLUM Robert Bagshaw

Lieut., R.F.A., 103rd Brigade, T.F.
Born, January 6, 1898. Killed in France, October 1, 1917.
R. B. Plum was the only son of Mrs. Bagshawe Plum, of Belmont, Worcester, and nephew of Colonel Williams, of St. Johns. He entered the School in September, 1909, in the First Form as a day boy. Subsequently he became a Boarder in the School House, won a King’s Scholarship and left from the Fifth Form in July, 1914, to take a post in the Evesham Branch of the London County and Midland Bank. At school he was a promising cricketer, bowling with good effect for the 1st XI., and a keen member of the O.T.C. from the start. Later he qualified for the Inns of Court O.T.C., passed through the Exeter School of Gunnery and was attached to the 2nd South Midland Brigade. He was crossed to France in March of this year and was killed by a shell when fighting with the battery against a German counter-attack. His C.O. writes: “His loss will be felt by the whole Brigade; he was much esteemed by his brother officers.” He was a devoted son and a keen O.V., a constant correspondent with his old Headmaster. A requiem service was held for him in S. John’s Church on October 11th. R.I.P.
W. H. C.

Source for additional information: The Vigornian, November 1917, No.90, Vol.VIII

Worcester Daily Times, Friday 12th October 1917:
Lieut. R.B. Plum
Mrs R.B. Plum of Belmont House has received letters from the Colonel commanding the Brigade, the Captain of his battery, the Chaplain and an officer who is serving in the brigade and another officer of his battery giving details of the action in which her only son was killed, all bearing testimony to his bravery and to the loss they all sustain at his death. Lieut Plum was shooting the battery at an urgent request for fire from the infantry, when he was hit at his post by a fragment from a German shell, and was struck in the head. He never regained consciousness and died soon after arriving at the Clearing Station hospital. He was buried in the adjacent cemetery by the hospital Chaplain. Quotes from various letters are printed in the paper, the report closing with ….a very impressive memorial service at St John’s Church on Thursday morning.

A photograph of Lieutenant R.B. Plum can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 13th October 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.