Private Robert Robinson
Robert Robinson was born on 22 July 1896 at Ballynacaird, County Antrim, the sixth of ten children of labourer (later farmer) Robert Robinson and his wife Sarah (née McNeill). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Ballynacaird with his parents and his eight surviving siblings (including his twin brother David), and working as a farmer.
Robinson enlisted in the cavalry on 12 February 1917 (the 17th Lancers according to a report in the Ballymena Observer.) Between 3 and 30 July 1917, however, he was transferred to the North Irish Horse (No.2625 – later Corps of Hussars No.71918).
In January 1918 he embarked for Egypt with a draft of North Irish Horsemen from the regimental reserve depot at Antrim. There he was attached to the 1/1st Nottinghamshire Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers), serving with that regiment in the Palestine campaign.
On 16 June 1919, following his return to the UK, Robinson was discharged, being 'surplus to military requirements, having suffered impairment since entry into the service' (paragraph 392 (xvi)(a), King's Regulations). He claimed a pension due to malaria, his level of disability assessed at 30 per cent in December 1919.
Two of Robinson's brothers also served in the war, although records are not consistent as to their names and regiments. It appears that one was his twin brother David, killed in action on 11 April 1917 while serving with the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers. The other was William Robinson, in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron.