A 'Spring Offensive' Jock's Prisoner of War campaign medal pair: Private Robert Esplin, 1st/7th (Deeside) Battalion Gordon Highlanders, late 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 51st Highland Division

- British War Medal. Silver issue (S-17965 Pte. R. Esplin. Gordons.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (S-17965 Pte. R. Esplin. Gordons.)

Wounded-in-Action & Prisoner-of-War: Extant International Red Cross Records confirm that Private Robert Esplin of 'C' Company 1/7th (Deeside) Battalion Gordon Highlanders. had been wounded-in-action with 'Gunshot & Shrapnel Wound, or GSW. to the right leg, received at Bumetz, France, on 22 March 1918, on which date he was captured by the enemy, and interred as a Prisoner-of-War in Germany. The record makes reference to 'Munster II' as the district in Germany where he was interred

Repatriation: The Arbroath Guide newspaper issue of 14 December 1918, contained a list of 'Prisoner of War' that had been repatriated to the United Kingdom (after 11 November 1918), and whom had returned to their homes in the Arbroath area, the list including Private Rovert Esplin, Gordon Highlanders, who had returned to his residence at, West Laverock Hill, Carmyllie,

Medals Verification: The Great War campaign medals all verified as issued per the respective medal rolls of the Gordon Highlanders, as under:

a). British War Medal. Silver issue: Reference WO 329/1657 (shows first entered France with 5/Gordons, later served with 7/Gordons)

b). Interallied Victory Medal: Reference WO 329/1657 (shows first entered France with 5/Gordons, later served with 7/Gordons)

Robert Esplin, fourth son of William Anderson Esplin (Stone Quarryman & Farmer), and Jean Croll Esplin (nee Cathro), was a native of West Laverock Hall, Carmyllie, Arbroath, Angus, Scotland, where he was born on, 26 September 1895. The 1901 National Census for Scotland, records Robert living at home together with his parents and 6 x siblings, viz: 2 x sisters; Mary Esplin & Agnes Asplin, and 4 x brothers; Charles Esplin, William Esplin, George Esplin & Alex Esplin. By trade a 'Ploughman', Robert is recorded to have travelled to Canada to work in 1911, but had returned to Scotland in 1913 - before the Great War broke-out. When he enlisted in the British Army, he was posted to the 5th (Buchan and Formartin) Battalion Gordon Highlanders, with which unit he first served overseas in a theatre of war, 'France'. Later transferred to 1/7th (Deeside) Battalion Gordon Highlanders, he was wounded-in-action and captured by the enemy, at Bumetz, France, on 22 March 1918. Subsequently transported and interred at a POW camp in Munster, Germany, Robert was released from captivity and repatriated back to Scotland, before 14 December 1918. Robert Esplin did not remain long in his native country, as in 1921, he is recorded migrating to Canada, where he subsequently became a naturalized Canadian, and settled in Manitoba. He is recorded as having died in Minnedosa, Manitoba, Canada, sometime in 1975

Sold together with some hard-copy photocopied research

Condition: About GVF

Code: 22616