Leatherhead War Memorials : Pte Wallace A Robinson, 7th Bn East Surrey Regiment

Taken Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS

Pte
Wallace A Robinson
7th East Surrey Regiment
Hulluch
March 6 1916

The records of the Queens show that he was born in Leatherhead and enlisted at Kingston-upon-Thames.

He is listed in the May 1915 issue of Leatherhead Parish Magazine among those serving.

The list of dead and wounded attached to the War Diary of the 7th East Surreys on its disbandment in 1918 lists No.858 PTE ROBINSON W KIA 6.3.16.

The Bn has been reminded of the fact that there is still plenty of life left in the Bosche, all the craters, saps and trenches being heavily bombarded.

12.5 am mine exploded to right of our line. Germans make 3 attacks on Crater "C" which coincided with an attack by 6th Buffs.
Shrapnel.
Russian Sap leading to Crater "C" (held by 'A' Coy) almost filled in.
Northampton trench was made almost impassable by day.

However no actual casualties are mentioned contemporaneously in the War Diary and Wallace Robinson had to wait until February 1918 for some sad form of recognition.

Sources
Regimental Records of the Queens, Queens Regimental Museum, Clandon Park, Surrey
WO95/1862 War Diary 7th Bn East Surreys, Public Record Office, Kew

ROBINSON, WALLACE
Rank: Private
Service No: 858
Date of Death: 06/03/1916
Regiment/Service: East Surrey Regiment 7th Bn.
Panel Reference: Panel 65 to 67.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL

The Wikipedia page on the Hohenzollern Redoubt 1916 shows the location of Hulluch (an area of quarries) where he was apparently killed and Loos where, having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial.

It states "Four mines, the largest yet sprung by the British, were detonated on 2 March, then followed up by two battalions of infantry, which captured the new craters, several German occupied craters, Triangle Crater which had not been seen until overrun and a large length of the Chord, most of the rest being obliterated by the mine explosions.

The main entrance of the German mine galleries was discovered in Triangle Crater and the 170th Tunnelling Company crossed no man's land, to demolish the entrance. German counter-attacks concentrated on the recovery of Triangle Crater, which was re-captured on 4 March.

The recovery by the Germans of the gallery entrance, threatened the positions captured by the British, who attacked Triangle Crater on 6 March, were defeated and forced back to their start line."

SURREY AND THE WAR.
KILLED BY A SHELL.
Information was received in Leatherhead on Monday that Pte. W. Robinson, of the 7th East Surrey Regt., son Mr. and Mrs. J. Robinson, The Crescent, Leatherhead, had been killed a few days previously in France, by a German shell. With several other young men of Leatherhead, Pte. Robinson joined the East Surrey Regt. soon after the outbreak of the war, and had seen a great deal of fighting in France, where he had been for nearly a twelvemonth when met his death.

Pte. Robinson had two brothers also serving in France. Pte. F. Robinson being in the Army Service Corps, and Pte. P. Robinson being in the R.A.M.C.

ROLL OF HONOUR. BRAVE SURREY MEN FALLEN IN THE WAR.
LEATHERHEAD AND DISTRICT
MARCH.
ROBINSON, Pte. W., East Surrey Regt., killed in action, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Robinson, The Crescent, Leatherhead.

His life

Wallace Albert Robinson was born on 6 July 1895 Leatherhead, Surrey and baptised on 15 September 1895 at St Mary and St Nicholas, Leatherhead's Parish Church.

His father was Joseph Robinson born 1851, Long Itchington, Warwickshire, a son of James Robinson, a Railway Contractor. Wallace was a Plasterer.

His mother was Jane Ann Martin, born Stirling or Arbroath, Scotland about 1856, a daughter of Henry Martin, a Tanner. In the 1911 Census her occupation was an Upholsterer.

They were married at Leatherhead Parish Church on 31 January 1876:
Joseph Robinson 25, Bachelor, Plasterer, Leatherhead: Father - James Robinson, Railway Contractor
Jane Ann Martin 20, Spinster - Leatherhead: Father - Henry Martin, Tanner

Wallace's siblings were Donald b 1878, Leonard b 1879, Annie b 1879, Alice b 1881, Mary b 1883, Percy b 1885, Jessie b 1888, Joseph Frank b 1889.

Wallace lived at:
1895 Electoral Register (father): Church Walk, Leatherhead
1901 Census: Lynton Cottages, Church Walk, Leatherhead
1911 Census: 1 London Street, The Crescent, Leatherhead

He was single when he died. His WW1 Pension card names him as Wallace Albert Robinson.

After WW1

According to Electoral Registers his mother Jane remained in The Crescent, Leatherhead, until at least 1925. Her death was registered in Epsom District in January 1926. It is not yet known when and where his father died.

Pte Wallace Albert Robinson 7th Bn East Surrey Regiment

His life

After WW1

Pte Wallace Albert Robinson
7th Bn East Surrey Regiment