Robert Carruthers Fitch worked for the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Ltd. in the Perth head office. He had been with corporation since leaving school and was head of the Burglary Department with 21 years’ service when he enlisted, aged 38, in January 1915.  A keen sportsman excelling at football and cricket he was described in the company magazine as follows: “ his kindly frank, outspoken manner won for him not only the confidence of his superiors, but the affectionate esteem of all his colleagues”. He was twice wounded. In about July 1916 when he was in hospital recovering from wounds he wrote the following: "You will have received the field postcard which I posted to you saying I have been wounded. I am pleased to say I am doing well and hope to be all right again very shortly. I was shot in the left arm; the wound is a clean one and will not take long to mend. I will have back the power of my arm. I am one of the very lucky ones. A bullet penetrated my steel helmet just half an inch above the forehead; another one split my rifle up the middle. I got them - the bullets - all at once! It was terrible, and an experience I shall never forget. Thousands of our poor chaps never got 20 yards over the parapet, and some never out of the trenches. They (the Germans) were all ready for us. The mischief was done by machine-gun and enfilade fire. The loss of officers is colossal. PS I am glad to have been able to take a small part in this."   He was serving as a Lance Corporal in the Seaforth Highlanders 2nd Battalion when he was killed in action at Arras. He was around 40. PIC

Anna Stone