ROBINSON, Robert Beeley


351048, Private, Robert Beeley ROBINSON
Aged 20


"C" Coy., 1st/7th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment
formerly No.3198, 7th London Regiment
presumed Killed in Action on 15th September 1916

Robert Beeley ROBINSON was born in Horncastle, Lincolnshire (Horncastle Q3-1896 7A:541), son of Frederick and Annie Maria M ROBINSON (née PERKINS).
His photograph here when he was about 9 -10 years old.

1901 census...Aged 5, he was with his mother Annie ROBINSON [32] born Deeping St Nicholas, sister Florence [3] and brother Cyril P [5] months], visiting his grandparents, Robert and Ann PERKINS and his aunts Susannah and Tya, at the Racecourse Ground, Spalding. All three Robinson children were born in Horncastle. His father, Frederick ROBINSON [39] a draper/grocer born Burgh, Lincolnshire, was at home, at High Street, Alford, Lincs.

1911 census...Aged 14, he a pupil was at the East Anglian School, Bury St.Edmunds. His parents and brother Cyril Perkins ROBINSON were at 21 Queen Street, Horncastle.


He enlisted in Sun Street, Finsbury Square, London, The 1st/7th Battalion were known as the "Shiny Seventh".

The battalion were in trenches on the right of HIGH WOOD. The war diary has:-
15.9.16 - 4 am - Coys moved into position in assembly trenches preparatory to attack.
6:20 am ZERO. Battn attacked the German trenches in four waves on a 400 yard frontage. Order of Coys was left to right D-A-B-C. Two Lewis guns with each Coy at the disposal of the OC Coy. Coys moved forward as ordered in 7th Bn order 106 and took first German line and switch line. Heavy machine gun fire heard from direction of HIGH WOOD where the 15th Bn London Regt failed to take first German line.
The "?" on our immediate left moved along the eastern edge of HIGH WOOD and then moved along in front of our first line where it stopped, drawing heavy German fire on our trenches. C and D Coys reported rather heavy casualties but A and B Coys only slight. Coys dug themselves in, in front of the switch line.
8 am Right Coy in touch with N Zealanders on right, but left flank exposed owing to 15th Bn Lon Rgt being hung up in HGH WOOD.
9:30 am Information received from 15th Bn on our left that their A Coy had reached the switch line but B, C and C Coys and the whole of the 141st Inf Bde were hung up in the wood and failed to reach the German front line.
12 noon 15th Bn reported HIGH WEOOD in their hands. Coys reported persistent enemy shelling of the switch line which interfered considerably with work of consolidation.
3 pm Coys reorganised as far as possible and took up new line and dug in about 100 yards in front of switch line. Ammunition, bombs and water supply pushed forward to our front line and switch line. Reserve platoons arranged for supply of forward platoons. Considerable difficulty was experienced in keeping communications between Coys and Bn HQ. Telephone communication was almost impossible, lines being cut almost as soon as they were laid. Communication by runner was the only means found practicable and this sometimes causes shelling of the position to which runners were sent. Buzzer communication was kept up at intervals with Bde HQ, but communication with Battn on our left was continuous and many messages to Bde were despatched this way.
Estimate casualties :-Capts 2, Lt. 1 2nd t 5 Other ranks 150-200. One machine gun was captured and brought away. Two heavy minenwerfer were also captured but these were too heavy to get away and had to be left in the line.
9 pm 3 Officers (left at wagon lines as reserves) joined Battn and one officer joined from course. Night passed quietly except for intermittent shelling of HIGH WOOD and SWITCH LINE.


CWGC figures are 45 killed, of which 36 have no known grave.





Robert Robinson is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial, pier/face 9D/9C/13C and 12C
also on war memorials in Horncastle, Lincs.

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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