BY THE PATH OF DUTY
R.I.P.

PRIVATE ROBERT SAMUEL WADE

LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT

26TH SEPTEMBER 1917 AGE 22

BURIED: BRIDGE HOUSE CEMETERY, YPRES, BELGIUM


Sometime during the years 1919 and 1920, the bereaved next-of-kin received a bronze plaque carrying the name of their deceased relation, together with a commemorative scroll. Underneath the royal crest, the scroll recorded the deceased's rank, name and regiment with the following much discussed wording:

"He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten."

Robert Wade's father, James, quoted the phrase, 'by the path of duty' for his son's inscription.
The Wades were a military family. James Wade had served in the South African War, been wounded and taken prisoner at Zilikat's Nek and then, having retired, re-enlisted in the reserve on 6 September 1914. His brother, Samuel, was also a soldier. He had remained in the army and had risen through the ranks, receiving a commission in November 1914. He was killed in action on 8 December 1914. James' eldest son, William, also a regular soldier, died of wounds received in action on 25 October 1914. Robert Wade, James's third son, was killed at Polygon Wood and buried at Bridge House Cemetery where all but one of the 45 burials died on either 25 or 26 September 1917.