• Born: 10 October 1887, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland ^{4 6 7}
• Marriage (1): Anne Stobo HAINING on 20 April 1920 in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland ^{1 2}
• Died: 20 January 1968, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada at age 80 ⁸
• Cremated: 1968, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ⁹

  General Notes

World War I Victoria Cross Medal Recipient. He served as a Lieutenant in the 43rd Battalion Manitoba Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force. At Passchendaele, Belgium, on October 26, 1917, the Germans gained a strong front position. Lieutenant Shankland rallied the remnants of his own platoon and men of other companies, took command of the ground in front and inflicted heavy casualties on the retreating enemy. Later he dispersed a counter-attack and then personally communicated to headquarters an accurate and valuable report as to the position on the brigade frontage. He then rejoined his command and carried on until relieved. For extreme courage and leadership, he was awarded the Victoria Cross Medal. He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
—  bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith, posted on FindAGrave.com; adapted from the London Gazette article about his awarding of the Victoria Cross.

   Robert Shankland was presented with the Freedom of the Burgh of Ayr in 1918, and was not only V.C., but also D.C.M. (No. 420933 Company Sergeant Major), was wounded 26 Oct 1917 and 11 Nov 1917. Also that he was appointed to the rank of Lieut.Col. on 2 Sep 1939 in the 2nd WW, serving in Canada and United Kingdom until 10 Jan 1946 when he returned to reserve status. This information is from the Canadian War Archives.

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  Birth Notes

Church Street

  Death Notes

Shaughnessy Hospital

  Burial Notes

Mountain View Cemetery and Crematorium; ashes scattered on the grounds

  Recorded Events in His Life

• He has conflicting birth information of 10 October 1887 and St. Quivox, Ayrshire, Scotland.

• He appeared on the 1891 Census of Scotland on 5 April 1891 in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. ⁴
  William Shankland household, 6 Gordon Terrace, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland
  

William Shankland   38
Jane Shankland      37
Janet W Shankland    5
Robert Shankland     3

• He had a residence on 18 December 1914 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. ⁷

• Arrival: 9 December 1919, in St. John County, New Brunswick, Canada. ⁶

• He worked as a clerk in 1920. ⁵

• Departure: travelling on the vessel "The Duchess of Richmond", on 30 November 1929, in Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland. ⁶

• War Memorial: 26 October 2017, in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland.

• War Memorial: Rozelle's Remembrance Woodland, on 26 October 2017, in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland.
  
  Hunt for family of First World War hero honoured 100 years after Passchendaele
  by Colin McNeill
  6th October 2017
  
       A search has been launched to find relatives of a soldier awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during the Battle of Passchendaele in the First World War.
       Officials hope to have family members present at a ceremony to honour the bravery of Robert Shankland, which will take place in Ayr on October 26, 100 years since the heroic acts took place.
       Mr Shankland was born on October 10, 1887 at 6 Gordon Terrace in the South Ayrshire town and emigrated to Canada in 1911.
       At the outbreak of the First World War he enlisted and returned to Europe as part of the 43rd Battalion (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
       On 26 October 1917, during the Battle of Passchendaele, the 43rd Battalion was among the units of the Canadian 3rd Division which attacked the heavily fortified Bellevue Spur where concrete strongpoints bristling with machine guns had repelled all previous assaults.
       Lieutenant Shankland braved enemy lines to take new information back to command, before returning and helping to capture the Bellevue Spur.
       For his actions that day he was awarded the Victoria Cross, with the citation stating that his courage and his example 'undoubtedly saved a critical situation'.
       Commemorative paving stones are being laid across the UK to honour the 628 Victoria Crosses awarded during the conflict as part of the national programme to mark the centenary of the First World War.
       South Ayrshire Provost Helen Moonie said that despite an extensive search no surviving family members had been found.
       She said: "We're preparing a permanent memorial to mark Robert's valour in the Battle of Passchendaele, and we'd dearly love to have family members present at the ceremony.
       "Robert was born and raised in Ayr, while his wife Anna Stobo Haining came from Prestwick. Although he spent most of his life in Canada Robert had a lifelong connection with his hometown and was awarded the Freedom of the Burgh of Ayr in 1917.
       "I'd urge anyone with a personal connection to the Shankland family to get in touch to help add a family connection as we remember a powerful story that will soon be set in stone in his home community for generations to come."
       The stone will be laid at the First World War Rozelle Remembrance Woodland at Rozelle House and will be set in a tree trunk to help it blend in with the other sculptures that are already there.
       After the war Mr Shankland married Anna Stobo Haining, the younger daughter of the stationmaster at Prestwick Railway Station, and the couple went to Canada to resume civilian life.
       His last visit to Ayr was in 1964 when local press coverage of his visit noted that in addition to two sons he now had a grandson.
       He held secretarial and managerial posts with several Winnipeg firms, and died aged 80 on January 20, 1968, at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver.
       His ashes were scattered in the city's Mountain View Cemetery. His name also appears alongside that of his wife on the Haining family gravestone in Monkton and Prestwick Cemetery.
       Anyone who thinks they may have a family connection is asked to contact the Civic Office at South Ayrshire Council on 01292 612 474 or email provost@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.
  
  — from http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/15582578.Hunt_for_family_of_First_World_War_hero_honoured_100_years_after_Passchendaele, accessed 8 Oct 2017

Robert married Anne Stobo HAINING, daughter of David HAINING and Anne Johnson Hay BOYD, on 20 April 1920 in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland.^{1 2} (Anne Stobo HAINING was born on 15 June 1889 in Elderslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland,^{10 11 12} died on 22 January 1952 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada ⁸ and was cremated in 1952 in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland.)

  Recorded Events about their Marriage

• Gallery: Marriage Record, on 20 April 1920, in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland.

  Marriage Notes

St. Nicholas Parish Church