Private 45194 James Edward Robinson

 
Photograph courtesy of John Ashworth.

Killed in Action on Friday, 17th August 1917, age 20.
Commemorated on Panel 154 to 159 and 163A of Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 53rd Company. 18th Division.
Formerly 3563, 'C' Company, 1/6th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment.

Son of James Thomas Robinson and Patience Robinson, of 22, Factory Rd., Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 28th June 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the Tipton Library, and St. Matthew's memorials.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/831110/

Genealogical Data

Birth of James Edwin Robinson registered March Quarter 1897 in Dudley.

1901 Census
1 Factory Road, Tipton, Staffs.
James Thomas Robinson (27, General Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Patience (29, born Tipton), and their 2 children: James Edwin (4, born Tipton), and Phoebe Elizabeth (2, born Tipton).

1911 Census
22 Factory Road, Tipton, Staffs.
James Thomas Robinson (38, General Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Patience (39, born Tipton), and 3 of their 4 surviving children of 7: James Edwin (14, Labourer in Telegraph Line Works, born Tipton), David (9, born Tipton), and Ethel (5, born Tipton).

Personal Data

All of the Army and CWGC records for James Robinson give his middle name as Edward. It was actually Edwin, as shown on his Birth Certificate and all Census records.

James enlisted with the 2/6th Bn. South Staffs on 26th October 1914 in Wolverhampton. His stated age was 19 years and 265 days, he was probably 17 years and 265 days old as he was born in 1897. He was 5 feet 4½ inches tall, weighed 108 pounds, had a 34½-inch chest measurement with a 4½-inch chest expansion; physical development was noted as 'good'. His complexion was sallow, eyes grey and hair brown. He had a tattoo on his left arm, a scar on the right side of his head, and a mole on his left shoulder blade. He was employed as a Moulder, and his religion was Wesleyan.

After training, James arrived in France on 28th June 1915 when he was posted to the 1/6th Bn. South Staffs; they were located at Wulvergem (7 miles south-west of Ypres) where they had been since April 1915. The 1/6th South Staffs saw action at the infamous Hill 60 from July to September, then briefly to Vermelles and to Neuve Chapelle in November 1915. He was in the battalion Machine Gun section.

James was admitted to No. 2 General Hospital, Quai de Escales, Havre, on 20th November 1915. He was suffering from "Trench Feet (Effects of cold)", this was often from having feet immersed in water due to water-logged trenches. He was then recorded as being just 18 years old, having been in the army for 1 year, and having served 5 months 'with the Field Force' (ie abroad). The legal minimum age for service overseas was 19 years at that time. Two days later, on 22nd November, he was transported back to England on the Hospital Ship 'St. Denis'.

After further medical treatment (in Birmingham according to the Tipton Herald), James was given leave from 21st to 31st January 1916 when he was passed "fit for light duties". It is likely that he remained in England until he arrived in France on 20th August 1916, having transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 26th July while in Catterick, Yorkshire. On 30th August, he was posted to 53rd Company, Machine Gun Corps, in 18th (Eastern) Division, this was one of the most highly regarded Divisions. He was promoted to Lance-Corporal (unpaid) on 3rd November 1916, and sent on a 3-week training course at the Machine Gun school in February 1917.

The one black mark in his military career occurred on 16th April, when he was found guilty of "Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline. Irregular language to a senior N.C.O.". He was deprived of his Lance-Corporal stripe, reverting to the rank of Private.

After James's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £12/16/2d (12 pounds, 16 shillings and 2 pence). This sum, however, was subject to a recharge of £5/7/8d leaving £8/0/6d which was paid to his mother and sole legatee, Mrs Patience Robinson, in April 1918. His War Gratuity was £13/0/0d (13 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his mother in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Frederick had enlisted in approximately November 1914; we actually know that he enlsited on 26th October.

James's mother, Mrs Patience Robinson, was awarded a Dependant’s Pension of 7/6d (7 shillings and 6 pence) per week, effective from 12th March 1918. Her address at this time was 22 Factory Road, Tipton.

Action resulting in his death

The 53rd Company, Machine Gun Corps, belonged to 53rd Brigade of 18th (Eastern) Division. For the Battle of Langemarck, 53rd Brigade was loaned to 56th Division on the right of the battlefield. 53rd Brigade was to advance from Stirling Castle, through Inverness Copse to Black Watch Corner at Polygon Wood. The attack did not go well, and the 53rd Brigade was forced to halt and create a defensive flank.

8 Machine Gun units were allocated the task of firing a barrage onto German lines; it is possible that James was involved in this. A letter from his officer says he was buried in Sanctuary Wood which is in this general area. James has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald September 29th 1917
ANOTHER TIPTON HERO.
Another young Tipton soldier to be killed in action is Private James Edwin Robinson, eldest son of Mr and Mrs James T. Robinson, 22 Factory Road, Tipton. He was one of the band of patriotic young heroes who, under military age at the outbreak of war, joined the forces in the wave of patriotism following upon the outbreak of war. He was age 17 when he enlisted in the month of October 1914. He was 20 years of age in February last, and so would have seen three years of army life. His parents have received no particulars of how their son lost his life, other than that he was killed in action. As a boy he attended the Five Ways Council School, and was a regular attendant at the Wesleyan Mission in Coppice Street, being the only scholar leaving school direct for the army. He joined the 2/6th South Staffs Regiment, and was in the Machine Gun Section. After leaving school, he worked at Bullers Ltd. up to the time of war. His father is employed at Willingsworth Furnaces. The parents have three younger children. Earlier in the campaign he sustained frozen feet, and from November 1915 to January 1916, he was in the Birmingham Hospital. He was then sent to Yorkshire from where he went straight to France. He had had no furlough since that time, so that his parents had not seen him for 21 months.
Writing to the parents, the Lieutenant of the Company says:- "I am sending you some of your son's belongings by parcel post. I know I have lost a jolly good fellow. Out here his behaviour on all occasions called for the highest praise from any officer with him at the time. His grave is in Sanctuary Wood, near Ypres, and he was buried with the respect that is only possible to give to those who fall out here. He was under me the whole of his time out here since last September. You have my sincere and deepest sympathy in your sad loss."
Note: James Robinson is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, so his grave in Sanctuary Wood was subsequently lost.
also
Roll of Honour.
ROBINSON.- Killed in action in France on August 17th 1917, Private James E. Robinson, 22 Factory Road, Tipton. Deeply cherished by his parents.