Born at Kettering but living at 21 Little Street in Rushden with his parents, Robert enlisted on 24th April 1915 at Rushden and went immediately to Chatham. He was 5' 8" tall with a 37" chest (2" expansion), a carpenter by trade and aged 20 years. A certificate of competency was sent by Messrs Whittington & Tomlin of Rushden, stating he was "....a good workman and sorry to loose him....". The family was father John Robert, mother Mary Anna and four boys and two girls: Alfred, Mary, Lionel B, Lily, Robert G and Ernest.

He embarked on 29th October 1915 and sailed for France. On 8th January 1916 he was shot in the hand and foot and was sent from the hospital to England on the 24th. He was then transferred to the Army Reserve and joined the Royal Engineers Special Section at Yatesbury. There he met Martha Elizabeth and they married.

On 4th December 1917 he embarked again for France, and sailed from Southampton. He was admitted to hospital on 30th April 1918. His daughter Elizabeth Mary was born on the 6th September 1918, and on the 15th December 1918 he was invalided to India. He left Bombay for the U.K. on 27th September 1919.

Robert died in Northampton Hospital. His wife Martha was lodging with Fred Knight at the Old Rectory, when she signed the receipt for his medals. When she notified the records office of his next of kin in May 1921 her address was Derry Hill, Wiltshire, but when the War Graves Commission listed Robert, she had remarried and was living in Trafford Road, Rushden.

The Rushden Echo Friday 19 November 1920, transcribed by Nicky Bates

Death of a Rushden Ex-Soldier - Mr Robert Marlow Passes Away - Service in France, India and Mesopotamia

We much regret to record the death, which took place on Saturday of Mr Robert Marlow, aged 26, of 21 Little-street, Rushden. Mr Marlow joined the army in May, 1915, and served in France, Indian and Mesopotamia. Since his demobilisation in November, 1919, he had never been in robust health, but was able to keep at work at Messrs. Whittington and Tomlin's, with whom he had been employed since he left school. Three weeks ago he was taken suddenly ill and was attended by Dr Greenfield. Death was the result of complications of internal troubles. Deceased was a member of the Rushden Athletic Club, and was a member of the Rushden Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. He leaves a widow and one little child to mourn their loss.

The funeral was conducted at the Cemetery on Wednesday by the Rector (Rev. P E Robson). The mourners were Mrs Marlow (widow), Mr J R Marlow (father), Mrs Marlow (mother), Mr A Marlow (brother), Mr E Marlow (brother), Mrs C Robinson (sister), Mrs Cuthbert (sister), Mr Charles Robinson (brother-in-law), Mrs E Marlow (sister-in-law), Mrs A Hales (grandmother), Mrs H Hales (aunt) and Miss M Hundall (friend). Mr Whittington and Mr Tomlin and all the employees also attended as mourners. Mr and Mrs T Carter, of Derryhill, Wilts, parents of Mrs Marlow, were unable to attended owing to illness. Messrs. Whittington and Tomlin were responsible for the funeral arrangements. The following were the inscriptions on the wreaths:-

From his loving wife, and baby, mother, dad, and Ernie, "Though lost to sight, to memory ever dear"; With love and sympathy, Charlie, Ciss and children; In loving sympathy, Alf and Edith; In loving memory, Percy and Lil; With deepest sympathy, Peter, Annie, Arthur, George; To dear Bob, from Mrs Leech and Florrie, Bedford road, "At rest"; With deepest sympathy, from his late employers, W & T; A token of respect from his fellow workmen; With deepest sympathy from his pals; In loving memory of our brother, from Rushden Branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners; In deepest sympathy, from Mr and Mrs G Poole; to dear Bob, with a token of respect, from the neighbours and friends of Little street.

The wife and father and mother of the deceased desire to express their heartfelt thanks to all who showed sympathy with them in their sad bereavement, also for the beautiful wreaths.