Robert J Scully

1894- 1917

Robert J. Scully or soldier 195275 was born at the Saint Joseph’s hospital in Peterborough on December 14th 1894. Robert grew up in Douro Township on the outskirts of Peterborough. Before the war began Robert Scully was a Butcher working for a company called Mathews- Blackwell, Limited. He was married to Roxie Scully. Robert Scully enlisted in the military on October 23rd 1915, and was cleared for service on November 26th 1915. Robert Scully fought for 2 years along the Western Front before he was killed in action on the 7th of November in 1917, during the battle of Passchendaele, in Belgium. He was first reported missing on the 6th of November and then reported killed in action on the 7th of November. On the days leading up to his death, Robert Scully’s first infantry battalion was along the front lines and in defense of the town of Passchendaele. On the day he was killed, his unit was heavily shelled which resulted in 12 casualties, Robert Scully being one of them. Robert Scully is buried in the Passchendaele new British cemetery, in Belgium. He is buried in plot X.E.18. Robert Scully’s name is also displayed on the Mathews-Blackwell roll of honour to commemorate the employees of Mathews-Blackwell, Limited, who fought during the First World War. Robert Scully’s name can be seen displayed on the peace tower Book of Remembrance on page 323 on July 14th

A Cemetery plan of the Passchendaele New British Cemetery where Robert J Scully is buried at plot X.E.18

Real pictures of the Cemetery where Robert Scully is buried

Canadian 1st Infantry Battalion

During the First World War Canadian troops were divided into four Divisions all under British command. Infantry Battalions were the troops that would jump out of the trenches and race toward the enemy, their job was not overly complicated, their responsibilities lay in leading attacks on the enemy. As a result of this a large portion of infantry soldiers died during the war. In Robert Scully's last few months his battalion was positioned in Belgium around the town of Passchendaele. Robert Scully died on November 7th, just days after the 1st infantry battalion had successfully captured the town. The Canadian first infantry battalion also took part in other major battles such as the Battle of Vimy ridge, Somme, Ypres. All of which Robert Scully survived until Passchendaele.

Private Robert Scully of the 1st battalion listed on the 323 page of the Canadian book of remembrance

THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE

The battle of Passchendaele took place during October of 1917. Canadian troops were tasked with recapturing and holding the town of Passchendaele in Belgium. A previous attempt to capture Passchendaele had left massive shell craters in the ground, which, when combined with the autumn rain created a muddy mess of a battlefield. The battle resulted in a combined 200 000 casualties on both sides, with 15 000 Canadian troops losing their life, one of which was Robert J Scully from Peterborough Ontario.
The Total losses in the battle of Passchendaele was for no more than 8 kilometers of land. The entire battle lasted for the whole month of October. In 1917 October was a rainy and cold month which created a dreary and miserable battlefield on which many soldiers lost their lives. By the end of the treacherous battle the Canadians and their British allies had come out victorious, having driven the Germans into a retreat. The victory at passchendaele played an important role in winning the war as the town itself led to a train station that the Germans had been using to transport supplies.