Robert Kilgour Shives (1890 - 1916)

Born 20 Jul 1890 in Campbellton, Restigouche, New Brunswick, Canada

Ancestors

Died 29 Sep 1916 at age 26 in Euston, London, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Robert Kilgour Shives was born on July 20, 1890 in Restigouche County, New Brunswick.^[1] He was a son to Kilgour Shives, a New Brunswick businessman and mill owner, and Maria Somers (Mills) Miles. His grandfather, Alexander Shives, had also been involved in the lumber industry and had immigrated from Scotland. An uncle, Robert Shives, was the first Dominion of Canada emigration agent for New Brunswick and was a key player in the ramp-up of efforts to attract immigration to the province in the 1870s.

Robert was educated at the Campbellton Grammar School and entered the Forestry Department of the University of New Brunswick in 1909, obtaining his degree in 1913.

At the outbreak of war in 1914, he volunteered for military service but was not accepted because of a weak ankle. Unhindered, he proceeded to move to Toronto to take an aviation course at his own expense at the recently opened Curtiss Flying School at the Long Branch Aerodrome, Canada's first. With this additional training, Robert qualified for a position in the Royal Flying Corps. He was sent to the Ypres salient, where his efficient and valuable service as a pilot and observer won him rapid promotion from Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant. Finally, he was made a Captain in charge of a flight of six machines.

His photographs of positions taken while on scout duty were remarkably clear and full, and stamped him as a born artist. One, taken on the eve of a projected advance, revealed an enemy trench unknown to the British officer, which would have wrought havoc in the attacking lines on the morrow. It was promptly demolished, and the young officer and scout was commended for his excellent work. On Sunday, April 30, 1916, and while flying ten miles back of the German lines, he engaged an enemy machine, and was badly wounded, but brought his air-ship back in safety to the aerodrome, twenty-five miles distant.

Invalided to England and recovering from the wound, he visited his home in the summer of the same year. He returned overseas and went on Zeppelin duty in August, but was accidentally killed at Euston, near Thetford, September 29, 1916, by the discharge of a machine gun he was examining. With the permission of the Home Secretary the remains were removed from Euston, brought to New Brunswick and re-interred in Fernhill Cemetery, St. John.

In a strange coincidence, his father also died by an accidental gunshot.

Sources

1. ↑ 1901 Census, Addington Parish, Restigouche County, New Brunswick

• First World War Honour Roll, University of New Brunswick Associated Alumni (A reprint of biographies contained in a magazine produced in 1919 with additional research)
• Memorial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/138425367/robert_kilgour-shives: accessed March 6, 2024), memorial page for Captain Robert Kilgour Shives (20 Jul 1891–29 Sep 1916), Find a Grave Memorial ID 138425367, citing Fernhill Cemetery, Saint John, Saint John County, New Brunswick, Canada; Maintained by SJB Hearn (contributor 46864594).