Rupert was born in July 1897 in Waterloo, Lancashire and in the 1901 census he is recorded as living with his father George Artingstall Poggi and his mother Lilian Mary. At this time he had two older sisters Eva Mary and Mary Lloyd. The family lived in Seaforth, Lancashire and Rupert’s father was a wine and spirit merchant. His grandfather was the Rev Dominic Joseph Poggi who was born in Italy and who became the principal at New Brighton College.
By the time of the 1911 census Rupert was attending boarding school in Hertfordshire. It would seem that later on it was his intention to work in the city as by 1914 he was a member of the Inns Of Court Officer Training Company.
It was about this time that the family also owned a home in Cilcain, namely, The Nook, Pentre Road, which is still a home in the village today.
Having moved to live in London at the age of 18 he joined the 26th Royal Fusiliers 1st London Regiment (infantry) in 1915 and in 1918 he served as a corporal in the western theatre. During the battle of Arras 29 German divisions were assembled on a 33-mile front from the Somme to Arleux for a general attack on the British Third Army positions with Arras as the principal objective. Rupert’s battalion was part of the 56th Division which was part of the British defences. The German attack began on 21st March with a bombardment followed by an infantry attack on 28th March. Rupert was probably part of the British line and he was posted as missing on 24th March 1918. His death was confirmed on 2nd April, 1918 at the age of 20. The losses of the London Regiment in the battle were 1,488 men.
Ganwyd Rupert ym mis Gorffenhaf 1897 yn Waterloo, Sir Gaerhirfryn, ac yn ôl cyfrifiad 1901 roedd o’n byw efo ei dad George Artingstall Poggi ac ei fam Lilian Mary. Ar y pryd honno, roedd dwy chwaer hŷn sef Eva Mary a Mary Lloyd. Yn Seaforth maent yn byw a masnachwr gwin oedd ei dad. Mi gaeth ei daid Parchedig Dominic Joseph Poggi ei eni yn Yr Eidal ac pennaeth coleg yn New Brighton yr oedd.
Erbyn y cyfrifiad 1911 myfyriwr mewn ysgol preswyl yn Sir Hertford oedd Rupert. Yn nes ymlaen byddai’n ymddangos mai bwriad i weithio yn y ddinas Llundain gynno fo oherwydd fod yn aelod ‘The Inns Of Court Officer Training Corps’ erbyn 1914.
Tua’r adeg hon roedd y teulu yn perthyn tŷ yng Nghilcain sef The Nook, Ffordd y Pentre.
Ymunodd y fyddin sef catrawd ‘Royal Fusiliers 1st London Regiment’ ar ôl iddo fo symud i fyw yn Lundain pan oedd o’n 18 oed yn 1915. Yn 1918 roedd o’n gorporal yn y theatr orllewinol. Yn ystod brwydr Arras roedd byddin Yr Almaen yn gynnwys 29 rhanbarth ac yn sefyll ar draws y llinell flaen rhwng y Somme ag Arleux ar ddechrau’r ymosod ar y fyddin Brydeinig. Tref Arras ym Mhicardy oedd brif amcan yr Almaenwyr. Roedd bataliwn Rupert yn rhan is-adran 56fed ag oedden yn rhan yr amddiffyniad Brydeinig. Ar 21ain Mawrth dechreuodd ymosod yr Almaenwyr gan fomio y milwyr traed ac wedi’i ddilyn gan ymosod y troedfilwyr Almaeneg ar 28ain. Mae hi’n debyg a rhan y llinell flaen oedd Rupert a chafodd ei gofnodi ar goll ar 24ain. Cadarnhawyd ei farwolaeth 2il mis Ebrill, 1918, yn 20 oed. Yn ystod y brwydr colledion y gatrawd oedd 1,488 o ddynion.
Many thanks to Lorna Jenner of the Nook, Cilcain, and Rupert’s family for the photos and letters
Diolch yn fawr i Lorna Jenner y Nook, Cilcain, a theulu Rupert ar gyfer y lluniau a llythyrau
Postscript
Lorna Jenner who was a great help in producing this page brought it to the attention of a relative of Ruper Poggi. He sent the following e mail in reply.
