Private Robert Campbell Revera 202309 King's Liverpool Regiment

The CWGC has one entry for Robert C Revera which shows the middle name to be Campbell. This name is unusual enough that I am certain the records are all for the correct man.

It turned out that there was an interesting family story behind Robert Revera and I admit I did get a bit sidetracked so there is more information on this post about other members of his family than I usually include.

Family

Robert Campbell Revera was born in Liverpool on 24th August 1888 and baptised in St James Church, Toxteth on June 20th 1897 along with his brother Thomas William John Revera. Their parents were William John (and engine fitter) and Sarah Arabella Revera of 16 Court 1 House Hampton Street.  The church record (below) shows that he was born in 1885 but the BMD record and later census returns all show 1888.

A copy of the marriage certificate for his parents, William John Revera and Sarah Arabella John, shows that William's father (our soldier's grandfather) was called Campbell Revera (and he was from Mexico) so that explains Robert's middle name of Campbell.

At the time of the 1891 census the Revera family were living in 4 court 2 house, Hampton Street. The form shows that the head of the household, William John was aged 30, born in Liverpool and worked as an Engine fitter. His wife Sarah was 30 and their children were Mary E aged 7, Charles aged 5 and Robert C aged 3. This family of 2 adults and 3 children were living in 4 rooms, this was quite spacious by the standards of court housing at the time.

Baptism and birth records show that John and Sarah had at least 7 children, Mary Ellen (b 1884) Charles (b 1886) Robert Campbell (b 1888) Ada (1892) Rosalia (1894) Thomas William John (b 1897) and Campbell (b 1899) It is possible that Sarah's death was related to childbirth as she died in 1899, the same year Campbell was born.

At the time of the 1901 census William Revera was a widower and was still employed as an engine fitter. He was a boarder at the house of Mr and Mrs Larkham, 11 Dolling Street, Toxteth. Robert (aged 13) and Thomas (aged 4) were living with him.

A search for the rest of the children shows that Ada and Rose were at a Girl's Industrial School at 24 Dingle Lane. Mary Ellen was enumerated as a visitor at someone's house, Charles was a boarder, aged 15, and working as a kitchen boy. Campbell was living with his grandparents.

In 1904 Robert's grandfather, Campbell Revera, died. I think that the young Campbell (aged 4 at the time) was then adopted by his aunt and uncle and became Campbell Revera Foster.

On 25th February 1910 Robert was admitted to the Workhouse Infirmary (hospital) with the complaint of "septic glands of groin" he remained in hospital until 22nd March.

At the time of the 1911 census, Robert was aged 22 and living with his father and his brother William at 20a Yates St. This street still exists, it runs between Mill St and Beaufort Street in Toxteth and one side of the street is elevated, with steps up to the pavement and the terraced houses.

The Reveras probably only had the upstairs or the downstairs as their census return shows they lived in 20a and only had 2 rooms. Robert was working as a Dock Labourer.

Census returns show that Charles was still in boarding lodgings and worked as a leather porter. Ada was working as a domestic maid, Rosalia was a kitchen maid, Mary Ellen was a servant and Campbell was living with his adoptive family.

In 1913 his brother Charles married Elizabeth Agnes Collingwood, they had a daughter Mary Agnes born 19th April 1914.

In 1914 his sister Mary Ellen married Harry Cornwell.

On 22nd August 1915 Robert was married to Ellen Burgess in St Gabriel's Church (which was on the corner of Beaufort St and Yates St) They lived at Clive St, which was just around the corner. Robert's occupation was general labourer and their marriage registration shows that his father John was deceased.

Robert and Ellen had a son, William John Revera, born on 14th June 1916. Baptism records show that the family lived at 93 Clive St and the baby was baptised at St James Church, Toxteth on 2nd July 1916. Robert's occupation was given as "Soldier in H.M. Army".

We know that Ellen was expecting their second child when Robert was killed in action as their second son was born 5 months later on 21st August 1918. Baptism records show that their address was 341 Mill St (Toxteth) and Robert's occupation was given as "Soldier (Deceased)" Their second son was named after his father Robert Campbell Revera and was baptised in Holy Trinity Church, Toxteth on 30th August 1918.

Military Service

Robert Campbell Revera was a Private in The King's (Liverpool Regiment) with the regimental number 202309. His service records have not survived.

Medal rolls show that he served with the 2/5th Battalion and the 12th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment. He did not receive the 1914-15 Star so he went overseas sometime after 1st Jan 1916. Other than that we have little information.

Private Robert C Revera was killed in action with the 12th KLR on 24th March 1918.

His entry in UK Soldiers Died in the Great War has the following information:

Name:	Robert Campbell Revera
Residence:	Liverpool
Death Date:	24 Mar 1918
Death Location:	France & Flanders
Enlistment Location:	Liverpool
Rank:	Private
Regiment:	King's (Liverpool Regiment)
Battalion:	12th Battalion
Number:	202309
Type of Casualty:	Killed in action
Theatre of War:	Western European Theatre

Pension records show that his widow Ellen ("Nellie") was living at 341 Mill Street and received a pension for herself and their two children. In July 1919 Ellen remarried to Peter Geraghty and the 1921 census shows them living at 341 Mill Street with her 2 sons and his 1 son.

Other information

Two of Robert's brothers were also killed, but they do not appear on the memorial so I assume they weren't parishioners of St James.

Charles Revera died of wounds on 29th May 1917, serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery. Some of his service papers still exist, they show a bit of a family rift between his widow (who remarried 10 months after his death) and his sister over who was his next of kin, two very contradictory letters both purporting to be from his widow (and in very different handwriting) state that all medals etc should be sent to his sister, then complain about his sister getting his medals.

Their brother Campbell Revera (Foster) served with the 1st Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment and was killed in action on 16th April 1918.

The third brother, Thomas, served and  survived the war.

I have been informed that Robert Revera was related to one of the other names on the memorial, George James Harker.

CWGC Archives information:

The CWGC have recently added images of documents from their archives to their online database. The entry for Robert Campbell Revera shows that his body was exhumed and reburied after the war. He was found buried with a group of soldiers, many of the others were unidentified and were reburied under the standard wording "A SOLDIER OF THE GREAT WAR, KNOWN UNTO GOD" 4 of these unknown soldiers could be identified as the Royal Irish Rifles from their buttons. One was identified only as 'unknown major' but Robert Campbell Revera's entry was amended from 'unknown' to identified, the form shows that he was identified by 'disc' presumably his identity disc.

The forms also show that his wife had the following words added to his headstone:

FOR EVER WITH THE LORD

There is an interesting article here on the Western Front Association website about WW1 identification tags.