No.S/18632, Rifleman, Frederick George ROBSON
Aged 31
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Harry William RISING was born at Fernlee Villa, Haverhill on 24th October 1885 (Risbridge Q4-1885 4A:605), baptised in St.Mary's, Haverhill
on 20th November 1885, confirmed on 19th March 1900, son of George William and Ada Helen ROBSON (née HALL).
1891 census...Aged 8, he was at 84 Withersfield Road, Haverhill with his father George W ROBSON [30] mercantile clerk born Durham; his mother Ada H [26] born Hotwell, Somerset; brothers Henry [4] and William B [1 month]; sister Dorothy [2]. All the children were born in Haverhill. 1901 census...Aged 18, a junior clerk in printer's office, he was at 108 Withersfield Road, Haverhill with his parents; sisters Dorothy, Annie L [8]and Vuren(Vivien) A L [2]; brothers William B and Donald C [4], the new children born in Haverhill. 1911 census...Aged 25, grocer and draper's clerk, he was still at 108 Withersfield Road, with his parents; brothers Donald (hairdresser's assistant) and Thomas Hall [7]; sisters Vivien Maud [12], Madelene [9], Alice Evelyn [5] and twins Olive Mary and Kathleeen Lily [3]. All 12 siblings survive. He married Bessie BROOKER [3-4-1891] in Holy Trinity Church, London on 9th July 1916, the address being "Imperial", 109 Southwark Street London SE, later 51 Nicholas Road, Upper Holloway. There were 2 sons, Frederick Henry born 9th February 1916 who died 1st August 1916 from enteritis at 260 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch aged 6 months (his birth registration has not been found), and William George born 20th April 1917. The pension card also records a stepchild, Violet Elizabeth [13-4-1914]. Bessie's address then was 260 Kingsland Road, Dalston E8 Bessie then married William A DYER in 1918 and lived at 51 Nicholas Road, Upper Holloway Road, London. |
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The South West Suffolk Echo of 2nd December 1916 reported that:- "Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Robson, of 108, Withersfield Road, have now received official notification from the War Office that their eldest son, Rifleman F.G. Robson, of the London Rifle Brigade, was killed in action 15th. September 1916. " He enlisted in Hackney baths on 10th December 1915, giving his age as 30 years,3 months, a licensed victuallers manager residing at 18 High Street, Kingsland, London. 5 feet 5.5 inches (166.4 cm)tall, chest 35" to 39" (88.9 to 99.1 cm), weighing 140 lbs (63.7 kg). His next of kin was father George William ROBSOBN at 108 Withersfield Road, Haverhill. Placed in Reserves, he was mobilised in the Rifle Brigade on 6th May 1916 and on 13th joined the 15th Battalion. Posted to BEF (Southampton to Le Havre 28/29th August) 9th Battalion on 2nd September 1916 and reported missing in action on 15th September. His widow was granted a pension of 18 shillings 9 pence (£0.93) per week for herself and one child. On Army Form 5080 in 1919, Bessie declared the living relatives to be herself, a daughter Violet Elizabeth (13/4/1914) and son William George (22/4/1917); Frederick's parents at 1008 Withersfield Road, Haverhill together with his brothers, William [30], Harry [26] and sisters Dorothy [28] and Kathleen [10]. The 9th Rifle Brigade took part in a subsidiary attack in the Somme Offensive, the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, from 15th to 22nd September 1916. Their war diary has no details of action in this period but their progress is noted in the diary of the 9th King's Royal Rifle Corps, who were to their rear when they attacked GIRD TRENCH and BULLS ROAD on the 15th. They veered to their right towards Lesboeufs. They were forced to halt by heavy hostile machine gun fire from trenches that were not being shelled by our artillery and suffered many casualties as a result The CGWC figures have 131 killed, 107 of them with no known grave, only one officer avoiding being a casualty Frederick was found at 57c.T.2.b.3.1 (to the SE of Flers) in an unmarked grave, identified by his number stamped in his boots, re-interred in Serre Road No 2 in 1927 |
photo: Roy Beardsworth
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