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In memoriam

Lance Corporal William John Robinson DCM

 

 

William John Robinson was born at Broughshane, County Antrim, on 19 February 1897.  He joined the North Irish Horse in November 1915 and a year later transferred to the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles (Service No.40839) with around 100 other men of the North Irish Horse. In December 1916 they joined the Battalion in France. 

Robinson was killed in action on 16 August 1917 during the Battle of Langemarck, part of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). He was aged 20. For his "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" on that day he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His citation reads as follows:

When all has 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. (Supplement to London Gazette, 22 October 1917 and 26 January 1918.)

As Lance Corporal Robinson has no known grave, he is commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlanderen, Belgium, Panels 138-140.

 

 

Image kindly provided by Steve Rogers, Project Co-ordinator of the The War Graves Photographic Project, www.twgpp.org.