the late Alexander Robertson, of Holmiry, Glenisla, Alyth, by his wife,
Annie, dau. of John Mackenzie, of Alrick, Glenisla; _b._ Holmiry
aforesaid, 6 June, 1874; educ. Glenisla Public School, and Harris
Academy, Dundee; was a Banker by profession, and was Agent, Blenheim
Place Branch Office of the National Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh;
served for a few years with the 5th (Vol.) Battn. of the Black Watch,
and joined the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles (4th Royal Scots) in Jan.
1893; received a commission in the same Battn., Jan. 1910, and was
promoted Capt. Nov. 1913, succeeding to the command of the well-known
Bankers Coy.; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war;
left for the East, landed at the Dardanelles, 11 June, 1915, and was
killed in action there, 28 June, 1915, “gallantly leading his men.”
Buried at the Base. He had the Long Service medal. Capt. Robertson
_m._ in Edinburgh, 16 Sept. 1913, Janet Ritchie (151, Bruntisfield
Place, Edinburgh), dau. of Fergus Robertson, of Glenshee, Perthshire;
_s.p._
=ROBERTSON, JOHN EDMOND=, Coy. Sergt.-Major, No. 9072, 1st Battn.
King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 2nd _s._ of George Robertson,
of Old Aberdeen, Baker, by his wife, Isabella Milne, of Aberdeen;
_b._ Aberdeen, 5 Nov. 1884; educ. King Street Public School, and
Central Higher Grade School, Aberdeen; enlisted in King’s Own Scottish
Borderers, 8 Dec. 1904, and served in Egypt and India, and with the
Mediterranean Force; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles (Beach
Y), 25 April, 1915; was promoted Coy. Sergt.-Major for gallant conduct
in this and the subsequent fighting and was killed in action there, 28
June, 1915. He _m._ at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bombay,
19 Dec. 1911, Bella, 3rd dau. of the late Alexander Rothnie, of the
Caledonian Railway, Aberdeen, and had a son and dau.: Ian Alexander,
_b._ 18 Sept. 1912; and Audrey Elizabeth, _b._ 11 Sept.
1914. He combined a strong interest in literature with an all-round
proficiency in sports, and his exceptionally happy and cheery nature
won him great popularity alike among officers and men.
[Illustration: =John Edmond Robertson.=]
=ROBERTSON, ROBERT=, Private, No. 4205, 1st Battn. Northumberland
Fusiliers, _s._ of the late Robert Robertson, Tobacco Spinner,
by his wife, Annie (3, Back Hedley Street, Newcastle), dau. of David
Patton; _b._ Bishop Auckland, co. Durham, 19 Aug. 1882; educ. St.
Mary’s, Newcastle-on-Tyne; enlisted in 1900; served in the latter part
of the South African War, 1901–02; was 12 years with the Colours, being
afterwards employed at Armstrong, Whitworth & Co., Elswick Shipyard;
re-enlisted in the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers on the outbreak of war,
and was transferred to the 1st Battn.; went to France in Jan. 1915, and
was killed in action at Ypres, 28 Feb. following; _unm._ Buried
there. His brother, Driver David Robertson, is now (1916) on active
service with the Royal Field Artillery.
[Illustration: =Robert Robertson.=]
=ROBERTSON, ROBERT HORSBURGH=, Corpl., No. 2309, 14th Battn.
(London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Robert
Holmes Robertson, of Stonelaw House, Rutherglen, by his wife, Jessie,
dau. of Robert Horsburgh, and nephew of John Horsburgh, of the Hele
Paper Co., Ltd., of Cullompton, co. Devon; _b._ Rutherglen, 11
Oct. 1884; educ. Stonelaw School and Glasgow Academy, was in business
with his uncle at the Hele Paper Co., Ltd., but on the outbreak of
war immediately joined the London Scottish, and was early drafted to
France. He quickly rose to be a corpl., and was on the eve of being
gazetted to a commission when he was shot by a bullet at dawn on 6
May, 1915; _unm._ His Capt. wrote: “He was a splendid fellow, and
had done so well that he was offered and had accepted a commission
in the regt. He was greatly loved by his comrades.” He was buried at
Richebourg in an orchard by the remainder of the “five inseparables,”
of whom he had been one, and a cross marks the spot.
[Illustration: =Robert H. Robertson.=]
=ROBERTSON, ROBERT JOHN CHARLES=, Private. No. 1423, 4th Battn.
(Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt., _s._ of Robert John Robertson,
by his wife, Annie; _b._ Hackney, 27 Nov. 1894; joined the Royal
Fusiliers, Aug. 1910; accompanied his regt. to France and was killed in
action, 27 April, 1915; _unm._
=ROBERTSON, THOMAS=, Stoker, 2nd Class, S.S. 115087, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=ROBERTSON, WILLIAM=, Corpl., No. 5470, 3rd, attd. 1st, Battn.
East Yorkshire Regt., _s._ of William Robertson, of 170, Pilgrim
Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne; _b._ Newcastle-on-Tyne, 14 Nov. 1884;
educ. All Saints’ School there; was employed as a Riveter at Armstrong,
Whitworth & Co.’s Shipyard; enlisted in the 3rd East Yorkshires, and
after serving his time with the Colours, joined the Reserve; was called
up on mobilisation, 5 Aug. 1914; went to France, where he was attd. to
the 1st Battn., and was killed in action, 8 April, 1915, being shot by
a sniper. Corpl. Robertson was well-known in sporting circles, being
several times successful in boxing competitions; also competing with
success in running events as Joe Coe; and in 1913 he won the regimental
gold medal for running at Beverley. He _m._ at Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Mary Jane, dau. of (--), and had a son, Alexander, _b._ 8 April,
1909.
=ROBERTSON, WILLIAM JAMES=, Private, No. 173, B Coy., 3rd Battn.
Australian Imperial Force, 2nd _s._ of Laurence Henry Robertson,
of Aywick, East Yell, Shetland, Seaman and Carpenter, by his wife,
Margaret, dau. of William James Jamieson; _b._ East Yell
aforesaid, 24 Sept. 1892; educ. Public School there; went to Australia
in Nov. 1911, and settled at St. Mary’s, Sydney, and was employed in a
leather factory; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of
the European War, and joined the 3rd Battn. Australian Imperial Force;
left for Egypt, Nov. 1914, and died at Cairo, Egypt, 9 March, 1915, of
pneumonia, contracted while on active service; _unm._
[Illustration: =William James Robertson.=]
=ROBERTSON, WILLIAM JOHN=, of Mounteagle, Fearn, Ross-shire,
Major, 4th Battn. Seaforth Highlanders (T.F), eldest _s._ of the
late John Robertson, of Mounteagle, by his wife, Alexandrina Mary,
dau. of Robert Matheson of Edinburgh; _b._ Edinburgh, 18 June,
1868; educ. Tain Royal Academy; was an old Volunteer and Territorial
officer; obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 1st Seaforth
Volunteers (afterwards the 4th Territorial Battn. of the Seaforth
Highlanders), 10 March, 1897, and became Capt. 4 Jan. 1905, and Major
10 May, 1914: volunteered with his Battn. for foreign service on the
outbreak of war; went to France, 5 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action
at Neuve Chapelle, 10 March, 1915. Buried at Vieille Chapelle. He was
a member of the Ross County Council, and had the Volunteer decoration
and the Long Service medal. He _m._ at Tain, 30 July, 1902,
Minnie Henderson (Mounteagle, Tain), dau. of Andrew Fraser, of North
Glastullich, Tain, and Balaldie, Fearn, and had a son: John Andrew
Fraser, _b._ 1 Oct. 1908.
=ROBERTSON, WILLIAM KEITH=, Private, No. 81751, 5th Battn.
Canadian Expeditionary Force, yr. _s._ of David Robertson, of
Court Lodge, Caterham, by his wife, Edith, dau. of Dr. William May;
_b._ Warley, co. Essex, 26 Feb 1893; educ. Tonbridge School; went
to Canada in March, 1914, and settled in Saskatchewan on a ranch;
volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of the European War;
came over with the second contingent in Feb. 1915; went to France, 1
May, and was killed in action at Festubert, 24 May, 1915; _unm._
Buried at Festubert (K5 Illirs, Voilanies).
[Illustration: =William Keith Robertson.=]
=FORBES-ROBERTSON, KENNETH=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Seaforth
Highlanders, elder _s._ of the late Farquhar Forbes-Robertson,
of Slead Hall, co. York, by his wife, Laura (2, Keynsham Bank,
Cheltenham), dau. of C. H. Macaulay, of Slead Hall, Yorks; _b._
Slead Hall aforesaid, 17 April, 1882; educ. Cheltenham College,
and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1st
Seaforth Highlanders, 11 Aug. 1900; promoted Lieut. 10 May, 1902, and
Capt. 6 April, 1911; served (1) in East Africa, 1904; took part in
the operations in Somaliland, and action at Jidballi (medal with two
clasps); (2) on the North-West Frontier of India, 1908; took part in
the operations in the Zakha Khel country; also in operations in the
Mohmand country and the engagement of Matta (medal with clasp); and (3)
with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, from 5 Oct. to 7
Nov. 1914, on which latter date he was killed in action in Ploegsteert
Wood while leading a reconnoitring party; _unm._
=ROBINS, FREDERICK JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 2796),
S.S. 100030, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast
of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=ROBINS, HENRY GEORGE=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3365), 191262, H.M.S.
Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=ROBINSON, ABRAHAM BURCHELL=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 14971, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ROBINSON, ALBERT EDWARD=, Blacksmith, 341124, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=ROBINSON, ALBERT VENIS=, E.R.A., R.N.R., 862 E.A., H.M.S. Hawke;
lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914;
_m._
=ROBINSON, ALFRED=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 10255), 204049, H.M.S. Hogue;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ROBINSON, ALFRED ELLIOT SOMERS=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal
Scots Fusiliers, 3rd _s._ of William George Robinson, of
Kelvinside, Glasgow, late Sergt.-Major R.E., by his wife, Clara;
_b._ Bermuda, 5 Sept. 1878; educ. Garnethill School, Glasgow;
enlisted 10 Sept. 1894; served in the Tirah Campaign, 1897–98 (medal
with three clasps); was given a commission in the 2nd Royal Scots
Fusiliers, 9 April, 1915; went to France, 24 May, 1915, and was killed
in action at Givenchy, 16 June, 1915. Gen. Gough, in a letter to
his wife, said he could not express too deeply his opinion of this
officer’s gallantry, and enclosed an extract of his report as follows:
“At Givenchy, 16 June, showed very gallant conduct in leading his
platoon to the attack of a strongly entrenched enemy. He was well ahead
of his men, and had reached the enemy’s wire, when he was killed.”
He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 30
Nov. 1915. He was a very good shot, was in the regimental team for
several years, and in the army sixty in 1909, when stationed in Dublin.
He _m._ at Leyton Parish Church, 5 Aug. 1905, Elise Esther (37,
Sister’s Avenue, North Side, Clapham Common, S.W.), dau. of Jean La
Bastie, of Pau (who served in the Franco-German War, 1870), and had two
children: Adele Velma, _b._ 27 Sept. 1907; and Violette Marie,
_b._ 5 Dec. 1909. His yr. brother, Wilfred Gower Robinson, was
killed in action at Ypres, 25 April, 1915.
[Illustration: =Alfred Elliot S. Robinson.=]
=ROBINSON, FRANK=, Sergt., No. 1362, 5th (Cinque Ports) Battn. The
Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), 4th _s._ of James Robinson, of George
Hill, Robertsbridge, Chauffeur, by his wife, Alice, dau. of Charles
Laurence; _b._ George Hill, Robertsbridge, co. Sussex, 5 July,
1894; educ. Salehurst School, there; was Sawyer at the Robertsbridge
Timber Mills; joined 5th Sussex Territorials, 13 May, 1911, and rose to
the rank of Sergt.; volunteered for Imperial Service on the outbreak of
war; left for France, 18 Feb. 1915, and died at No. 1 Casualty Clearing
Station 9 May, 1915, of wounds received the previous day at Festubert.
Buried, New Cemetery, Chocques; _unm._ He had been recommended for
a commission, and would have received one in a few days.
[Illustration: =Frank Robinson.=]
=ROBINSON, FRANK=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 3228), 191640, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ROBINSON, FRANK STANLEY=, L.-Corpl., No. 9257, 2nd Battn.
Coldstream Guards, _s._ of the late (--) Robinson, by his wife,
Catherine (now wife of (--) Sainty, of 1, Baptist Lane, Broad Street,
King’s Lynn); _b._ Tilney All Saints, co. Norfolk, 29 Dec. 1891;
educ. Tilney All Saints Public School; enlisted 18 Sept. 1911; served
with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in
action at Festubert, 24 Dec. 1914; _unm._ His commanding officer,
Lord Northland (since killed), writing to his mother, said: “You have
indeed lost a gallant son and the regt. a promising non-commissioned
officer.”
=ROBINSON, FREDERICK=, Private, No. 11024, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards, only _s._ of William Robinson, of Egmanton, near Tuxford,
co. Nottingham, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Henry (and Ann) Taylor;
_b._ Egmanton aforesaid, 28 March, 1896; educ. there; was engaged
on farm work; enlisted in the Coldstreams after the outbreak of war, 15
Aug. 1914; went to France 23 Nov. following, and died of wounds 25 Jan.
1915; _unm._ Buried near the Church at Cuinchy.
[Illustration: =Frederick Robinson.=]
=ROBINSON, JOSEPH COOPER=, Private, No. 21021, 9th (Service)
Battn. Lancashire Fusiliers, yst. _s._ of John Robinson, of
Sunderland, Driller in Shipyard (_d._ 1895), by his wife Margaret
(13, Brougham Street, Southwick-on-Wear), dau. of Michael Hedley, of
Sunderland; _b._ Monkwearmouth, co. Durham, 28 Nov. 1889; educ.
Board School, Southwick; was employed in the Sunderland Bottle Works;
enlisted, 24 Aug 1914; trained at Grantham, and was killed in action
at Chocolate Hill, Gallipoli, 21 Aug. 1915; _unm._ The same day
his great friend and school fellow G. Hepinstall, with whom he had been
brought up, enlisted and gone to the Front, was killed some distance
away.
[Illustration: =Joseph Cooper Robinson.=]
=ROBINSON, JOSEPH ROBERT=, Private, No. 10947, 1st Battn.
Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Robert Robinson, of East Barkwith, co.
Lincoln (now on active service with the 3rd Lincolnshire Regt.), by
his wife, Jane, dau. of Joseph Tuxford; _b._ Welton, co. Lincoln,
20 April, 1889; educ. East Barkwith; was a Guard on Great Central
Railway at Lincoln; enlisted in the Coldstreams after the outbreak of
war, 11 Aug. 1914; went to France 24 Nov. following, and was killed in
action at La Bassée 14 June, 1915; _unm._ Buried there. His three
brothers are all now (1916) on active service.
=ROBINSON, LAUNCELOT ALEC (LANNIE)=, Assistant Paymaster, R.N.R.,
yst. _s._ of Capt. John Charles Robinson, of Armadale, Parkstone,
late Union Castle Steamship Co., by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of
Alexander Bell; _b._ Acton, 28 July, 1885; educ. Queen Elizabeth
Grammar School, High Barnet, and Banister Court, Southampton; was a
purser in the Union Castle Steamship Co.; appointed Acting Assistant
Paymaster, R.N.R., 25 Aug. 1914; joined H.M S. Bulwark 24 Sept.
following, and was killed on active service when that ship was blown up
off Sheerness, 26 Nov. 1914; _unm._
[Illustration: =Launcelot Alec Robinson.=]
=ROBINSON, LAWRENCE LEONARD=, A.B., J. 1445, H.M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=ROBINSON, LESLIE JOHN=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Northamptonshire Regt.,
only _s._ of the Rev. William Robinson, Vicar of East Haddon, co.
Northants, by his wife, Hannah, dau. of Jonathan Hall, of Hud Hey,
Haslingden, Lancs.; _b._ Holme Vicarage, Westmoreland, 7 Oct.
1883; educ. Kelly College, Tavistock; and the Royal Military College,
Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Northamptonshire Regt., 22 April, 1903,
and promoted Lieut. 28 Jan. 1905, and Capt. 1 Dec. 1910; as Assistant
Adjutant and Musketry Instructor at Colchester from 1908 to 1911;
served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Nov.
1914 to 12 March, 1915, on which latter date he was killed in action at
Neuve Chapelle. While at Kelly College he was in the Cadet Corps; won
the shooting cup three times, and shot at the Devon County Volunteer
meeting in 1901, when his college won the Public Schools’ Challenge
Shield. At Sandhurst he was in the athletic team against Woolwich, and
when with his regt. in Malta he won the Officers’ Cup for shooting.
He _m._ at St. Giles’, Oxford, 21 Aug. 1913, Louisa Sophia, dau.
of the late Walter Merivale, M.I.C.E., and had two children: Anthony
Leslie and Diana Merivale, twins, _b._ 6 March, 1915.
[Illustration: =Leslie John Robinson.=]
=ROBINSON, REGINALD WILLIAM=, Capt., 5th (Service) Battn. Royal
Inniskilling Fusiliers, 3rd _s._ of Sir Richard Atkinson Robinson,
of 59, Hazlewell Road, Putney, S.W., J.P., D.L., Chairman of the
London County Council (1908), by his wife, Jane Wilson, dau. of Thomas
Thistle; _b._ South Kensington, 15 June, 1880; educ. St. Paul’s
School, and the Royal School of Mines, South Kensington; was for a time
a member of the London Scottish Volunteers; joined the C.I.V. in 1901,
and served with them in the South African War (medal); and was later a
Lieut. in the Rhodesian Volunteers; obtained a commission as temporary
Lieut. in the Inniskilling Fusiliers after the outbreak of war, 4 Oct.
1914, and was appointed Capt., 5th Service Battn., 3 Dec. following;
left for Gallipoli, July, 1915; took part in the landing at Suvla Bay,
and was killed in action there 15 Aug. 1915; _unm._
=ROBINSON, THOMAS WILLIAM=, A.B. (R.F.R., I.C. 329), 194399,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=ROBINSON, WILLIAM HENRY=, Corpl., R.M.A. (R.F.R., A. 0580),
H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ROBSHAW, THOMAS ARTHUR=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4429), S.S. 1494,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1
Nov. 1914.
=ROBSON, JAMES HERBERT=, Private, No. 4620, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards, _s._ of Robert Robson, of 68, High Street, Langley Moor,
co. Durham; _b._ co. Monmouth; enlisted 11 March, 1902; obtained
his discharge, 22 Sept. 1905; re-enlisted after the outbreak of war, 13
Aug. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders;
killed in action, 25 Oct. 1914.
=ROBSON, JASPER LEEMING=, Private, No. 6567, 3rd Battn. Coldstream
Guards, _s._ of the late Matthew Jasper Robson, of West White
Hill, Kirkwhelpington, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Farmer; _b._ Hunmanby,
co. York, 22 April, 1887; educ. County Council School, Felling-on-Tyne,
and privately; enlisted 18 Jan. 1906; served in Egypt 29 Sept. 1906 to
12 Feb. 1909, and with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc., from
12 Aug. 1914, and died a prisoner of war in No. 1 Reserve Hospital,
Hanover, Germany, 14 Oct. 1914; _unm._ Buried there.
=ROBSON, OLIVER AUGUSTUS=, Private, No. 12396, 1st Battn.
Coldstream Guards, eldest and only surviving _s._ of Oliver
Robson, of 9, Colchester Road, Leyton, co. Essex, Postal Servant, by
his wife, Louise Harriett, dau. of Augustus Bourlet; _b._ Bristol,
20 Oct. 1894; educ. there and in London; was employed in the Post
Office Telephone Department; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and
enlisted in the Coldstreams, 15 Sept. 1914; went to France to join his
Battn., 9 Jan. 1915; was reported missing after the fighting at Cuinchy
on the 25th of that month, and is now assumed to have been killed in
action on that date; _unm._
[Illustration: =Oliver Augustus Robson.=]
=ROBSON, RICHARD ERNEST=, Coy. Sergt.-Major, No. 2448, 2nd
Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Richard Robson, of Howden,
Northumberland, Coal Trimmer; _b._ Howden, 2 March, 1880; joined
the 1st Durham R.E. (Vol.), 2 Feb. 1896; and served in that corps until
31 Jan. 1899; being returned as an efficient in the years, 1896–97–98;
enlisted in the Coldstream Guards, 10 Feb. 1899; appointed L.-Corpl. 27
July, 1899, Corpl. 30 Aug. 1901, L.-Sergt. 2 July, 1902, Sergt. 5 Aug.
1905, Coy. Sergt. 7 Nov. 1907, Coy. Q.M. Sergt. 21 Oct. 1913, and Coy.
Sergt.-Major 1 April, 1915; served in the South African War, 18 March,
1900, to 6 Oct. 1902 (Queen’s medal with five clasps, “Johannesburg,”
“Diamond Hill,” “Belfast,” “Cape Colony,” “Orange Free State,” and
King’s medal with two clasps, “S.A. 1901,” “S.A. 1902”); and with the
Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 12 Aug. 1914 to 27 Sept.
1915, and was mortally wounded in the Battle of Loos, and died the same
day. Buried, at La Rutoire, north of the Loos Road, one mile S.E. of
Vermelles. He _m._ at Christ Church, Victoria Street, Westminster,
25 Feb. 1905, Lilian, dau. of Joseph Filderby, of Ladywood, Birmingham,
Scales Fitter, and had a son and a dau.: Richard, _b._ 3 Nov.
1907; and Margaret Lilian, _b._ 30 Aug. 1906.
[Illustration: =Richard Ernest Robson.=]
=ROBSON, THOMAS=, Private, No. 8170, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards,
only _s._ of Thomas Robson, of Newcastle, by his wife, Mary Anne
Elizabeth; _b._ Shieldfield, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 9 June, 1891;
educ. Gateshead; enlisted in the Coldstreams at Newcastle, 23 Nov.
1908, went to the Front with the Expeditionary Force, and was killed
in action at Landrecies a few days later, 25 Aug. 1914. “Many splendid
things were done that night at Landrecies,” wrote Corpl. G. Gilliam
(“Penny Magazine,” 28 Nov. 1914), “but there was nothing finer than
the work of our Maxim gunner Robson, who was on our left. Our machine
guns were by now at our end of the town, and they had a solid mass of
Germans to go at. Robson was sitting on his stool, and as soon as the
officer ordered ‘Fire’ he pressed the two buttons and his Maxim hailed
death. It literally was a hail of fire that met the packed Germans, and
absolutely swept down the head of the column, so that the street was
choked in an instant with the German dead. In spite of this absolute
hail, a few Germans managed to break through their walls of dead and
wounded. One of them disguised as a French Officer, and wanting us
to think he had been a prisoner, but had just broken away from the
Germans, rushed up to Robson and patted him on the shoulder and said;
‘brave fellow’; and with that he whipped round his sword and killed
our Maxim gunner on the spot; but he himself was instantly shot down
by our enraged fellows. I suppose he did not mind taking his chance.”
He _m._ at St. Mark’s, Kennington, Annie Francis (32, Werhum
Street, Kennington, S.E.), dau. of John Gosling, and had a dau., Annie,
_b._ 29 Nov. 1913.
=ROBSON, THOMAS WILLIAM=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./17824, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=ROCKLEY, ERNEST=, Ordinary Seaman, J. 16809, H.M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=RODDAM, ROBERT COLLINGWOOD=, Capt., 3rd, attd. 1st Battn.
Northumberland Fusiliers, only _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Roddam John
Roddam, of Roddam, co. Northumberland, J.P., B.A., late commanding 3rd
Northumberland Fusiliers, now commanding 15th Northumberland Fusiliers,
by his wife, Helen Fredericka, yst. dau. of Capt. Alexander Taubman
Goldie, of The Hermitage, Isle of Man, late R.N.; _b._ Roddam
Hall, near Alnwick, 10 Jan. 1890; educ. Wellington College; joined
the 7th Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.) as 2nd Lieut. in Aug.
1908; transferred to the 3rd Special Reserve, commanded by his father,
in 1910, and was promoted Lieut. 2 Dec. 1912. He was in Ceylon when
war broke out; returned to England at once and joined his Battn. in
Sept., went to France in Dec. as a Lieut., and was then attd. to the
1st Battn., and promoted Capt.; and was killed in action at Hooge, 16
June, 1915, gallantly leading his Company in an attack on the German
trenches; _unm._ Buried there. His Col. (now Brig.-Gen. Ainslie)
wrote: “He will be a great loss as an officer, in fact I know of no one
who shaped better or showed more soldierlike qualities. Over and over
again he has been in very nasty situations and every time he has come
out smiling, and kept his end up splendidly. It will be a consolation
to you to know what a tip-top officer he was.” Capt. Roddam was awarded
the Military Cross [London Gazette, 23 June, 1915] for gallantry with
the handful of men in the advanced trench left capable, after having
had their trench mined at St. Eloi, 14 April; and was mentioned in F.M.
Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May [London Gazette, 22
June, 1915], for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
[Illustration: =Robert C. Roddam.=]