11th Battalion Sergeant Herbert Henry Walton Robinson

Born in Hallam near Sheffield in England, Herbert was farming in Narrogin and a month shy of his 22nd birthday when he enlisted in May 1915.

After training he embarked at Fremantle on Anchises on 6 September 1915. He arrived in Egypt immediately prior to the evacuation from the Gallipoli Peninsular and joined his battalion at Lemnos on 12 December 1915.

The next four months were spent in Egypt before he was deployed to the Western Front, arriving in Marseilles on 5 April 1916. He proved proficient in the field and having been promoted to corporal in Egypt, was promoted again to sergeant on 17 April.

Sadly, young Herbert (24) was killed in action just four months later at Pozieres, between 20-23 August 1916.

There was heart-rending confusion as to the location of his burial - at the time recorded as being just north of Ploegsteert, three miles north of Armentieres - but in 1919 this was said to have been incorrect and he was actually buried in an isolated grave 1/4 of a mile south of Mouquet Farm, one mile north west of Pozieres, and 1-1/2 miles north north east of Ovillers La Boiselle.

He was reportedly buried with 6th Field Company Engineers Sapper F W Huntley. As his remains were later exhumed and reburied in Pozieres British Cemetery, it was presumed Herbert was similarly exhumed and reinterred. The confusion as to his burial was not resolved until 1928.

In the intervening years his name was on a special cross erected in the cemetery to account for those whose remains were believed to be in that cemetery, but the location of the actual graves remained unknown.

In April 1928 investigations showed that “during the work of removing the bodies of soldiers buried in isolated or scattered graves to cemeteries, the body of a soldier was found in the vicinity of Pozieres and his remains were carefully and reverently reburied in the cemetery… When the removal was carried out, a disc was found bearing Sergeant Robinson’s name and regimental particulars thus proving without doubt that the body was that of this soldier." His grave finally located, it was noted "Sergeant Robinson’s name will therefore be deleted from the Special Cross in Pozieres British Cemetery.”

Herbert left all his belongings to his father Albert, in Porter Glen, Sheffield. While no personal effects were recorded, in time his medals, King’s Memorial Plaque and Scroll were received by his father.

https://www.thesoldiersofbarrackstreet.com/sergeant-robinson-herbert-henry-walton-11th-battalion?rq=robinson