Robert was born in Oporto, the principal city and port of northern Portugal, where his father was a wine merchant in the family business connected with Taylor's Port. His parents were Harry Oswall Yeatman and his wife, Benedicta Katherine, nee Page. Educated at Fonthill Lodge School, East Grinstead, Robert was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in 1914, the rank being confirmed in January 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross and m ust have been wounded for he spent time at Polsden Lacey Convalescent Hospital. After the war, Robert went up to Oriel College, Oxford University. He went on to work in the advertising industry, advertising manager for Kodak Ltd.
With thanks to Janet Durbin for her research into Polesden Lacey, an Edwardian house and estate, located on the North Downs at Great Bookham, near Dorking, Surrey, UK, which became a Convalescent Hospital for Officers during WW1. In 1915 Mrs Greville was asked to take in wounded officers at Polesden Lacey. Large parts of the house became a convalescence home, staffed by military and volunteer nurses and Mrs Greville’s domestic servants.
Sources: Wikipedia, Find my Past and
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/polesden-lacey/features/polesdens-wounded-officers
http://www.familyletters.co.uk/jim/
