Robert HILL [11017]

  General Notes:

Robert, followed in his fathers footsteps, and made a career with Great Western Railways. He eventually became a Chief Buyer, and this entailed him travelling all over Europe purchasing steel, coal, and timber for the railway. His hobby was collecting fine art
pictures, and travelling all over Europe gave him the opportunity of visiting major art dealers. By the end of his days, it is said that he had built up a handsome and valuable collection. From all accounts, he was a man of great charm. He was devoted to the Hill family, and especially to his younger brother William. He married a lady called Eleanor, about whom John Hill's father wrote, "I can remember her only as a rather sour and crabbed woman, who became even more acrimonious in middle age when she became crippled. Despite this, Robert was most patient and attentive. She became fervently religious and had leanings towards the Roman Catholic faith, which Robert could not abide. There is the story that on one occasion she got a priest over to the house, and she introduced Robert to him as, "Father so-and-so.
I am the only father in this house, retorted Robert, who promptly dismissed him from the house.
During the Second World War he joined the Home Guard, and proved himself to be the best shot in his unit. However, his commanding officer found out that he was over 70 years old, and at a full parade on 24 January 1943 (when he was certainly over 73) he was asked to stand down. Apparently he was heartbroken that he was considered to be too old to make a contribution towards Britain's war effort.
It is believed that he died around 1960, when he would have been around the 90 mark.

  Other Records

1. Census: England, 5 Apr 1891, Swindon WIL. Robert is recorded as a son single aged 22 a draughtsman GWR born Swindon WIL

2. Census: England, 31 Mar 1901, Swindon WIL. Robert is recorded as a son single aged 32 a mechanical draughtsman born Swindon WIL

3. Census: England, 2 Apr 1911, Albert Villa Warwick Road Alton WAR. Robert is recorded as head of a 9 room house aged 42 married a mechanical engineer an inspector of purchased materials Great Western Railway Company born Swindon Wilts.

Robert married Eleanor Martha Maria SLOWGROVE [11018] [MRIN: 3662], daughter of Thomas SLOWGROVE [25161] and Unknown, on 30 Dec 1901 in Tooting Wandsworth. (Eleanor Martha Maria SLOWGROVE [11018] was born about 1876 in South Lambeth LND.)