Current Information:

Born-St George's-in-the-East

Enlisted-Stratford

Bailleul Communal Cemetery, France

The exact circumstances of the death of Robert Wiles on 30th April, 1915 are not known but artillery men faced many dangers and during the course of the war nearly 50,000 of them were killed. Their gun batteries were targeted by the enemy’s guns which accounted for many of their casualties. Others were sent forward to act as ‘spotters’ which meant going forward to the front line and signalling back to the guns necessary changes in target and other vital information. Keeping the batteries supplied with ammunition was a dangerous task as the enemy guns would target the known supply routes, especially at night. Brigade Diaries rarely shine any light on casualties sustained, unless of course they were officers and even then information is sparse. 

28 Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery was a unit of Britain’s pre-war regular army and went to France in August 1914 as part of 5th Division. During the last week of April, 1915 they were in action near Zillebeke and Hill 60 in the southern part of the Ypres salient.