| Birth | 1895, Micheldever, Hants | |
| Parents | Son of Harry & Hannah Hillier | |
| Residence | ||
| Occupation | Labourer on farm | |
| Enlisted | Alton, Hants | |
| Regiment | 12th (Service) (Bristol) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment | |
| Regimental No: | 36743 | |
| Rank | Private | |
| Service Record | ||
| Death | 23rd August 1918, killed in action, aged 23 | |
| Theatre of War | France & Flanders | |
| Commemoration | Gommecourt British Cemetry No.2, Hebeturne | |
| Medals | Victory Medal, British War Medal | |
| Robert John Hillier, like his brother Charles, was born in Micheldever, the son of Harry and Hannah Hillier. He was born some six years after Charles, in September 1895. In the 1911 Census Robert was still living at home, but the family had moved to Hunton Down, Micheldever and Robert was described as a ‘labourer on a farm’. He enlisted in Alton and served with the 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (Service) (Bristol), as 36743 Private Robert Hillier. The battalion trained in Bristol until June 1915, then moved to Yorkshire and finally Salisbury Plain before, with 990 men and officers, it sailed to France on 21st November 1915. It was allocated to 95th Brigade, 32nd Division, transferring to 5th Division in December 1915 and disbanding in October 1918, not long after Robert’s death. By the time it disbanded, one third of its original men had died, many more were disabled and 22 Battle honours had been awarded. Robert was killed in action during the Second Battle of the Somme, on 23rd August 1918, just two months before his brother. He was 23 years old. On that day, during part of the Second Battle of Bapaume, the 12th Gloucester’s were involved in a ‘bloody’ encounter with over 200 officers and other ranks killed as they tried to capture the village of Irles, some 10 miles (16 km) south of Arras, after first crossing the main Arras to Albert railway line. The village was taken, but at a great loss of life. Private Robert Hillier was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was laid to rest in the Gommecourt British Cemetery No 2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais, France, Grave V.K.29. |
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 A badly shelled communication trench on the road to Bapaume |
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