The fascinating and emotive Great War medals to the Robson family of Pocklington. The 1914-1915 Star Officer’s trio to Second Lieutenant J.S. Robson, 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment who would see service on the Western Front being wounded at Arras on 27th February 1917. The Great War Military Cross recipient’s Officer’s Memorial Plaque awarded to Captain E.S. Robson, 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment who would serve on the Western Front being twice wounded in 1916 and who would be awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 25th November 1916 for his conspicuous gallantry in action when he took over the Battalion Front, establishing a connection with the Brigade on his right and carrying out the work with great courage and initiative. He would later be wounded and reported missing on 17th April 1918. Never found, he has no known grave and is now remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial. Finally A Distinguished Service Order recipients Victory Medal and Great War Memorial Plaque pair awarded to Lieutenant Colonel F.W. Robinson, 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, later 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry who saw service on the Western Front including during the Battle of the Somme when he would be decorated with the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of 25th November 1916 for his conspicuous gallantry in action. He assumed command of his battalion and carried out his duty with the greatest courage and initiative. He set a splendid example to his men throughout the operations. He would be killed by machine gun fire on 28th March 1918 during the early stages of the German Spring Offensive and is now remembered on the Pozieres Memorial.
1914-1915 Star Officer’s casualty trio awarded to Second Lieutenant later Captain J.S. Robson, 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, late of the 19th (Service) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers who saw service on the Western Front and was wounded at Arras on 27th February 1917. After the death of three of his brother’s he would in 1918 return to Hull to be near his father and thus survived the war.
Group of 3: 1914-1915 Star; (2. LIEUT J.S. ROBSON. YORK:R.) British War Medal and Victory Medal; (CAPT. J.S. ROBSON.) Along with card boxes of issue for medals.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
John Stanley Robson was born on 4th September 1893 and was educated at Pocklington School and the Royal College of Music, as with his brothers he excelled academically being elected as associate of the Royal College of Organists.
Early in the war, he would join the 19th (Service) battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and on joining the 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, he was wounded at Arras on 27th February 1917. In 1918 he was transferred to the 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, which at the time based at Hull. This was on his own request after the death of Richard, Frederick and another brother Edward, to be near his father. John Stanley Robson married Miss Ethel Jennings of Storwood at Sutton on Derwent on 16th July 1918. In August 1920 he left the Army with the rank of Captain, he and his family went on to live in London and then Grimsby before he would return to Pocklington where he died on 9th December 1981.
A Great War Military Cross recipient’s Officer’s Memorial Plaque awarded to Captain E.S. Robson, 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment who would serve on the Western Front being twice wounded in 1916 and who would be awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 25th November 1916 for his conspicuous gallantry in action when he took over the Battalion Front, establishing a connection with the Brigade on his right and carrying out the work with great courage and initiative. He would later be wounded and reported missing on 17th April 1918. Never found, he has no known grave and is now remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Great War Memorial Plaque; (EDWARD MOORE ROBSON) Along with forwarding slip and Card outer folder.
Condition: Extremely Fine
Edward Moore Robson was born on 2nd October 1889 and baptised on the 28th October 1890, he was educated at Pocklington School and matriculated at London University, and served his articles with his father, as with Frederick and another brother, Richard, he excelled in law winning honours and prizes. Shortly after the outbreak of war he joined the 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, Edward was twice wounded, the second time being serious where he won the Military Cross, this being announced in the London Gazette of 25th November 1916. The citation for this award reading:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He took over the battalion front, establishing connection with the Brigade on his right and carrying out the work with great courage and initiative.’
He would attain the rank of Captain. Edward was reported as wounded and missing on 17th April 1918 and is now remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Whilst a soldier, Edward showed a talent as an artist and some of his drawings can be seen at the East Riding Archives in Beverley.
A Distinguished Service Order recipients Victory Medal and Great War Memorial Plaque awarded to Lieutenant Colonel F.W. Robinson, 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, later 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry who saw service on the Western Front including during the Battle of the Somme when he would be decorated with the Distinguished Service Order in the London Gazette of 25th November 1916 for his conspicuous gallantry in action. He assumed command of his battalion and carried out his duty with the greatest courage and initiative. He set a splendid example to his men throughout the operations. He would be killed by machine gun fire on 28th March 1918 during the early stages of the German Spring Offensive and is now remembered on the Pozieres Memorial.
Pair: Victory Medal; (LT. COL. F.W. ROBSON.) (Great War Memorial Plaque; (FREDERICK WILLIAM ROBSON) Along with paper outer envelope and card outer folder.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
Frederick William Robson was born on 15th May 1887 and baptised on the 15th June 1889 he was educated a Pocklington School where he would excel in both scholastic and athletic pursuits, representing Yorkshire at Hockey. He would matriculate at London University and would serve with his father gaining many honours with the law fraternity and was a sidesman at Pocklington Church.
Frederick would join the military and in 1909 joined the 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment as a Second Lieutenant; by the time of the Great War he was serving as a Captain and as with his battalion had become a full time soldier. In one particular battle at Martinpuich on the Somme he would take command of his battalion when it’s commanding officer was killed and went on to command full time. He was mentioned in despatches and won the Distinguished Service Order this being announced in the London Gazette of 25th November 1916:
‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. He assumed command of his battalion and carried out his duty with the greatest courage and initiative. He set a splendid example to his men throughout the operations’
Frederick would go on to become a Major, and finally a Lieutenant Colonel when appointed to the 50th Divisional School of Instruction (Officer training). In March 1917 he was put in command of the 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry and was once again Mentioned in Despatches.
His death came in battle at Caix in France being shot by machine gun fire on 28th March 1918 his body was never recovered but his discs were returned by diplomatic means from Germany. He is now remembered on the Pozieres Memorial. A fellow officer would write ‘He was one of the finest type of Englishmen I ever met, and feel his death very keenly as will the whole of his Battalion, who to a man trusted and loved him.
