L/Cpl
William Andrew Robinson
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1888 |
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Place of birth: Putney, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Painter |
Army information
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 13524 |
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Enlistment date: 05/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Wandsworth, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — East Surrey Regiment, 12th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 27/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Tower Hamlets, Geluveld, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 29 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 79 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal — 04/10/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 04/10/1920 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
William Andrew Robinson was born in 1888 in Putney, Surrey. He was the son of John and Amelia Beatrice Robinson. Before enlisting William worked as a house painter. He married Margaret Julia Burns in the spring of 1911. They had one daughter and two sons together, John William, Richard Henry, and Margaret Julia.
William enlisted in August 1915. Two years later he served as a Lance Corporal in the East Surrey Regiment, 12th Battalion, part of the 122nd Brigade, of the 41st Division, which participated in the Battle of Passchendaele. On the 20th of September 1917 the 12th East Surreys advanced through Bodmin Copse, along the Bodmin Road, towards the village of Geluveld. They managed to secure the first two objectives, but were forced to dig in near the Tower Hamlets spur, as the 122nd Brigade on the right was unable to advance any further. The Battalion held its ground throughout the 21st and 22nd of September, suffering heavy casualties, due to snipers, machine-gun and shell fire. From the 20th till the 23rd September a total of 300 men of the 12th East Surreys were either killed, wounded or missing.
According to William’s Casualty Report in his Service Record, the 29-year-old was killed in action on the 21st of September 1917, while holding the line at Tower Hamlets. His death was officially reported on the 27th of September. William has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
William enlisted in August 1915. Two years later he served as a Lance Corporal in the East Surrey Regiment, 12th Battalion, part of the 122nd Brigade, of the 41st Division, which participated in the Battle of Passchendaele. On the 20th of September 1917 the 12th East Surreys advanced through Bodmin Copse, along the Bodmin Road, towards the village of Geluveld. They managed to secure the first two objectives, but were forced to dig in near the Tower Hamlets spur, as the 122nd Brigade on the right was unable to advance any further. The Battalion held its ground throughout the 21st and 22nd of September, suffering heavy casualties, due to snipers, machine-gun and shell fire. From the 20th till the 23rd September a total of 300 men of the 12th East Surreys were either killed, wounded or missing.
According to William’s Casualty Report in his Service Record, the 29-year-old was killed in action on the 21st of September 1917, while holding the line at Tower Hamlets. His death was officially reported on the 27th of September. William has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 6
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"History of the East Surrey Regiment 1917-1919", Pearse H. W. & Sloman H. S., Uckfield, Naval & Military Press Ltd, 2005, pg. 91-92. Sources used |
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"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 77-80. Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/831159/robinson,-william-andrew/ Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary East Surrey Regiment, 12th Bn. http://www.nmarchive.com/ Further reference |