Robert Pierpoint (1898–1957)

Private

Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbys Regiment)    
Machine Gun Corps 53340  

Photo courtesy Margery Pierpoint

Robert Pierpont

Biography
Robert was born in 1898, the son of George and Agnes Pierpoint who farmed at Culland Farm, Crich.

There are two Robert Pierpoints in the Medal Roll Index Cards: Gunner RGA 79731 and Private MGC 53340. Robert Pierpoint of the RGA was from Sandbach and aged 25 on enlistment in 1915. Although an anomaly in the age of Robert Pierpoint MGC on the Silver War Badge (he would have been aged 18 not 21).

The family photograph shows him with the Sherwood Foresters cap badge. It appears as if he was transferred from the Foresters into the Machine Gun Corps. The MGC was formed in Oct 1915, drawing men already in other units that were trained as machine gunners. His Silver War Badge record shows he enlisted 24.10.14 so must have served with another unit until October 1915 when the MGC was formed.

The Sherwood Foresters records indicate that he did not serve overseas with them. [Steve Morse]

Did he lie about his age as would have been only sixteen in 1914? Was he acting L/Cpl as recorded in local newspaper reports? He was Pte on his army records.

The report in the Mansfield newspaper (see below) has an incorrect regimental number (his was 53340 not 63340) and it stated he was "of Mansfield" rather than "Crich". It is known that he had links with the Mansfield area as after the war he became a Methodist preacher and was also in the Home Guard during WW2 in the Mansfield area.

Derbyshire Courier: 2&5 June 1917Newpaper photograph of Robert Pierpoint in WW1
The Derbyshire Courier reported in June 1917 that Crich man Robert Pierpoint had been wounded (rank of Lance Corporal). The wounding "matches" the date of discharge of September 1917 of Robert Pierpoint MGC in the Silver War Badge Records.

The Mansfield Reporter & Sutton Times: 25 May 1917
Reported Lnce-Corpl R. Pierpoint 63340 (MGC), Mansfield had been wounded. (his reg number was actually 53340)
He had links with the Mansfield area, living in the district after he was discharged. He was a preacher at Skegby Methodist Church and was in the Home Guard at Sutton in Ashfield during WW2.

 

Robert Pierpoint married Gertrude A Daffin in 1925 June qtr (Mansfield reg district). They became local preachers at Skegby Methodist Church. During WW2 he was in the Home Guard at Sutton in Ashfield.

Photo courtesy Margery Pierpoint

Robert Pierpoint

Medal Roll Index Card
Private Robert Pierpont was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.

Silver War Badge
53340 Pte. Pierpoint Robert, Badge 274414 enlisted 24.10.14, discharged 26.9.17 aged 21years 6 months, wounds, served overseas.

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Culland Farm, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
George Pierpoint Head 26 Farming man Eagle, Lincs
Agnes A Pierpoint wife 22   Crich
Percival E Pierpoint son 4   Crich
Robert Pierpoint son 2   Crich
George E Pierpoint son 4 mo   Crich
William Pierpoint brother 30 Cattle man on farm Eyle, Lincs

RG13 piece 3231 folio 23 page 38

1911: Culland Farm, Fritchley

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
George Pierpoint Head 36 Farmer Eyle, Lincs
Agnes Ann Pierpoint wife 33   Crich
Robert Pierpoint son 12 Assisting on farm Crich
Everett Pierpoint son 10 School Fritchley
William Pierpoint son 9 School Fritchley
Arthur Pierpoint son 5   Fritchley
Lucy Pierpoint daughter 2   Fritchley
Herbert Jackson boarder 22 Farm labourer Alvaston
Saml. Jackson boarder 28 Farm labourer Alvaston

RG14PN20983 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED12 SN131

1939 Register: Omberley Avenue, Sutton in Ashfield
Robert Pierpoint b. 20 December 1898; provender millers and Agricultural Merchants Representative
Gertrude A Pierpoint b.2 August 1897
David M Pierpoint b.18 February 1938; underschool age
one closed record (this would have been Margaret E Pierpoint born 1936 who went on marry David Wilson in 1957, Mansfield)