Robert Alfred SymsAge: 65 years1901–1966
- Name
- Robert Alfred Syms
- Given names
- Robert Alfred
- Surname
- Syms
| Birth | 28 February 1901 |
| Marriage | Matilda Reeves — View this family 21 April 1924 (Age 23 years) Note: Reference Number:1446
|
| Death of a wife | Matilda Reeves 23 June 1960 (Age 59 years) |
| Occupation | Note: Builders Principal General Foreman
|
| Death | 12 December 1966 (Age 65 years) |
| Family with Matilda Reeves |
| himself |
Robert Alfred Syms Birth: 28 February 1901 — Calne, Wiltshire, England Death: 12 December 1966 — Calne, Wiltshire, England |
| wife |
Matilda Reeves Birth: 3 November 1897 37 38 — Foxham, Bremhill, Wiltshire, England Death: 23 June 1960 — Calne, Wiltshire, England |
|
Marriage: 21 April 1924 — St Martins, Bremhill, Wiltshire, England |
| Marriage | Reference Number:1446 |
| Occupation | Builders Principal General Foreman |
| Note | Bob left school at 13, having been promised an apprenticeship as a grocer. The Grocer died and his indentures were transferred to the International Stores. When he came out of his apprenticeship he decided he should have been a builder after all.His father (who was a builders general foreman by this time) arranged an informal apprenticeship as a carpenter. It was during this time he met Matilda, whilst he was helping to extend the Harris factory in Calne. He received his call up papers just as WW1 was ending, and they were cancelled before he was due to report. When WW2 started he was unable to enlist - both his age and his job (Builder's foreman - a reserved occupation) were against him. To start with he enlisted in the Wiltshire Constabulary as a Special Constable ( badge number 803] and assisted with policing in Chippenham evenings and weekends. Later he was conscripted and sent off to supervise bomb damage repair work, initially in Bath and Bristol. Later he was sent to London where he supervised bomb damage repairs for a large part of Balham. |