North Irish Horse - Gallery - In memoriam

In memoriam

Lance Corporal William John Robinson, DCM

William John Robinson was born on 19 February 1897 at Rathkeel, Broughshane, County Antrim, son of farmer Joseph Robinson and his wife Agnes (nee Gordon).

He enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Ballymena, County Antrim, in November 1915.

In November the following year Robinson, together with around 100 other North Irish Horsemen, volunteered to transfer to the Royal Irish Rifles (No.40839). They embarked for France on 7 December, where they joined the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, on the Somme front.

On 16 August 1917 Robinson's battalion took part in the Battle of Langemarck, part of Third Ypres. The battalion war diary for the day listed 27 other ranks killed, 7 wounded and missing, 170 wounded, and 63 missing.

Lance Corporal Robinson was one of those reported as wounded and missing. His death was later officially accepted.

For his "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" on that day he was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His citation reads as follows:

When all his company runners had become casualties, he acted as a runner all day, taking messages under severe conditions to advanced posts in shell-holes. His successful efforts in performing this extremely dangerous and most important work contributed very greatly to the repulse of two subsequent counter-attacks.

As Lance Corporal Robinson has no known grave, he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlanderen, Belgium, Panel 138.

De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour