| Robert Samuel Flood was the son of Robert James and Maria Flood (nee Bailey).
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| Robert was born about 1891 in Ashfield, Cootehill. County Cavan. All the family were born in County Cavan.
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| The 1901 census lists Robert Samuel as age 9 living with the family at house 1 in Killycreeny, Ashfield, County Cavan. The family were farmers and Robert was one of a large family.
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| Robert was a student at the Royal School Dungannon between 1903 and 1905.
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| The 1911 census lists Robert S as age 20 as a boarder at house 36 in Craigmore Town, Mullaglass, Armagh.
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| The 1911 census records the family at house 22 in Drumnagran, Tullyvin, County Cavan.
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| Robert worked at the Bessbrook Spinning Company in Armagh as an assistant manager. His uncle, Robert Scott, was the managing director.
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| Robert was a member of the local branch of the Ulster Volunteer Force.
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| At the outbreak of war Robert Flood enlisted with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers.
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| Private Flood quickly became 2nd Lieutenant Flood as he was promoted in January 1915 while he was stationed at Holywood and Victoria Barracks, Belfast.
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| The 9th Battalion were trained at Newtownards and then at Seaford in Sussex, England.
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| 2nd Lieutenant Flood landed with the rest of his Battalion in Boulogne in October 1915.
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| 2nd Lieutenant Robert Flood took part in and survived the Battle of the Somme.
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| Robert Flood was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry at Ypres on 16th August 1917. His citation read:
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‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of his company during an attack. He secured the objective after stubborn resistance. When compelled to retire, owing to the troops on his flank falling back, he conducted the withdrawal with great coolness, and held a position further back’
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| The Battalion diary states that on 19th October 1917 Captain Robert S Flood was 'granted one month's special leave and proceeded today.'
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| Captain Robert Samuel Flood was serving with the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers when he was killed in action by shrapnel at nine o'clock on the morning of 5th December 1917 in the trenches south of Marcoing.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 14th December 1917:
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| Captain Robert S Flood, M.C., Royal Irish Fusiliers, killed in action on 5th December 1917, was a son of Mr R J Flood, Millvale, Tullyvin, Cootehill, and a nephew of the late Mr Robert T Scott, managing director of Bessbrook Spinning Company. In civil life Captain Flood was an assistant manager at the Bessbrook works. He had been over two years at the front, and won the Military Cross some months ago, the official announcement of the award appearing in the London Gazette of 18th October. He was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force.
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| Robert’s brother, Private Samuel B Flood, served with the 5th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifles. Another brother, Lieutenant William J Flood, served with the 108th Battalion of the Tunnelling Mounted Brigade. Both survived the war.
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| Captain Flood is buried in Ribecourt British Cemetery in Nord, France. His inscription reads: THY WILL BE DONE
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| The CWGC record Robert Flood as the son of Robert I and Mrs M O Flood of Milhale, Tullyvin, Cootehill, County Cavan. He is also recorded as being born at Ashfield, Cootehill.
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| Many thanks to Paul Kerr and the Royal School Dungannon for his research and all the other information provided.
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