Brackenridge, Robert Robertson, son of James Hastie Brackenridge, textile manufacturer, of Wimbledon, and Margaret, d. of Robert Robertson of Larkhall, Lanarkshire; b. 23 Feb. 1918; adm. Sept. 1931 (A); left July 1935; RA 1940-4 (Capt.); d. of wounds in ltaly 30 May 1944.
Robert Robertson Brackenridge was born on the 23rd of February 1918 the younger son of James Hastie Brackenridge, a company director of a textile manufacturer, and Margaret (nee Robertson) Brackenridge of Lanark, Lanarkshire later of 9, Inner Park Road, Wimbledon Common in Surrey. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy where he was in Mackenzie House from 1929 to July 1931, and at Westminster School where he was up Ashburnham from September 1931 to July 1934. On leaving school he was employed as an apprentice surveyor with Knight, Frank & Rutley, Estate Agents.
He enlisted in the Royal Signals in November 1939 and attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on the 26th of October 1940. He served with Heavy Anti Aircraft and Light Anti Aircraft units in the UK, North Africa and in Italy and was promoted to Captain on the 3rd of January 1944.
On the 19th of May 1944, 75 Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery left the area of Trocchio and crossed the Rapido River the next day where it arrived at its new positions at 5pm. On the 21st of May 1944, the Regiment spent its time in reconnaissance and in ranging its guns in preparation for a planned attack on the Hitler Line which was due to begin two days later. During the afternoon the enemy began shelling the Cassino area and a shell struck the truck in which Robert Brackenridge was travelling, severely damaging it and badly wounding him. He was taken to hospital where he died from his wounds nine days later.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Edinburgh Academy.
He is buried at Naples War Cemetery Plot I, Row O, Grave 16.
