McCartney, Robert Stuart

Robert was born in Warwick in July 1898. He was baptised at St. Nicholas Church on October 9th 1898.

According to the census of 1911 Robert aged 12 was living with his family at 2 Priory Road. His father James had his own business as a beerhouse keeper. Robert had an older brother James who was a medical student, an older sister Lily who was a student teacher and a younger sister Evelyn. There was also a live-in housemaid, Annie Haycock aged 18.

Whilst at Warwick School, Robert was a Company Sergeant Major in the Officer Training Corps and also the honorary secretary and a first team player of the cricket club in 1916 .  He was a senior prefect and editor of the Portcullis Magazine.

Robert’s mother Jane had been married previously to William Sabin who died in 1882 aged 32. Robert had two half brothers Arthur Sabin born 1881 and Harry Sabin born 1882. Robert’s father died in 1920 aged 65 and his mother in 1949 aged 89.  Robert was still being commemorated in the Warwick Advertiser in 1941 and later years:

Robert’s brother James became a Pathologist working in London. In 1952 aged 60 he emigrated to Australia and died there in 1969. Neither of Robert’s sisters married. According to the 1939 census Lily was living with her mother in Redditch and teaching at an elementary school. She died in 1974 aged 81. Evelyn died in 1996 aged 96.