L/Cpl 41843 Thomas Robinson

• Age: 31
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 4th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Thomas Robinson was born 1886 in Liverpool, the son of William Robinson and his wife Ann. His marriage certificate tells us that his father William was a carpenter.  

The only record found for a Thomas Robinson with father William, a carpenter, is the family living at 4 Howat Street, Everton, in 1891. His father, William, is 38, born 25th September 1855 in Airdrie, Scotland, and his mother Annie is aged 34, and was born in Liverpool.  They have four children:  William 6, Thomas 5, James 3, and Annie E., 2 months old.  

The children’s birth registrations are as follows: William Hill Robinson, born 07th February 1885, abode Toxteth, father mariner, Thomas Hill Robinson, born 25th January 1886, Toxteth Park, baptised at St Peter's Church on 02nd May 1886, father William and mother Anne. 

There is a potential date of death for his father as a William Robinson, aged 41, died in the December quarter of 1897. 

The family cannot be found on later censuses. It is possible that their mother had died and the children were separated. With such common names, however, it has not been possible to identify them with confidence.

In 1901 a William Robinson, 15, and Thomas Robinson, 14, both born Liverpool, are inmates in Stannington Reformatory, Northumberland.

A William Robinson, 15, printer, is an inmate in Holy Trinity Industrial School Auxiliary Home in Grafton Street, Toxteth Park.

Another William Robinson, 16, a waggoner, born in Liverpool, is boarding with Robert and Mary Neild in Westhoughton, Lancashire.

A James Robinson, 13, born in Liverpool, is an inmate in Mile End Old Town, London, at the National Incorporated Waifs Association (otherwise known as Dr Barnardo's).

An Annie Robinson, aged 10, is an inmate at the Myrtle Street Sheltering home in Liverpool. 

Thomas and Annie Cottrell (nee Lundberg, born 10^th July 1885) married on 04^th September 1906 at St Cleopas, C. of E. Church, Toxteth. Thomas 20, gives his occupation as packer. Annie is 21. They give their address as 33 Micawber street. (There are no Robinsons or Lundbergs found at this address on any census or electoral roll.) They had three children Edith Evelyn Lundberg born 31^st March 1905 adopted, Thomas William born 12^th September 1907 and Edward 19^th June 1911. When he married in 1906 he gave his father as William Robinson, carpenter, not indicating he was deceased.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 10 Corn Street, Liverpool. Thomas is aged 25, born 1886 is a tailor’s packer who was born in Liverpool. His wife Annie is aged 25, born 1886 at home with her son Thomas William aged 3. They have been married for four years and have one child. They also have boarders living with them, Thomas' mother-in-law, Mrs. (Janet M.) Lundberg, 47, living on private means, and her three daughters, (Maggie, aged 23, born 1888 occupation paper bag maker as was her sister Florence aged 18, and Edith aged 6, born 1905).

He was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance Corporal No 41843. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, Thomas enlisted, or was conscripted, in about June 1916. 

Thomas was killed in action on the 04th August, 1917 aged 31 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The 17th Battalion Diary groups the action of the opening day of the offensive up to the relief of the Battalion on 04th August as follows: 

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.

During the action and their time in the line the 17th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds, and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3rd -4th August. 

Thomas was one of those casualties referred to in the diary.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

According to a later article reporting his death in the Liverpool Evening Express on 1st October 1917, Thomas arrived in France on 04th October 1916, and joined his battalion on the 18th. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 18th May 1917 and was killed in action between 31/7 and 4/8 1917. He had been at the front ten months and he left a widow and two children. He resided at 11, Jolliffe-street.

Thomas’ name appeared in the list of K.L.R. Killed in the Weekly Casualty List  on 18th September 1917.

CWGC gives his date of death as 31st July 1917 whilst Soldiers Effects states between 31/7/1917 and 4/8/1917.

Annie paid tribute to her husband in the Liverpool Echo 11th September 1917:

“In sad but loving memory of my dear husband, Lance Corp. T. Robinson, who was killed in action July 31, 1917.

  We prayed that God would keep a watch and shield him in the fray.

  But, alas, our hopes were blighted when the sad news came that day.

  Sleep on dear husband, in a far off grave, a grave we may never see.

   But as long as life and memory last we will remember thee.

From his sorrowing Wife and Children.  Sadly missed by Ma, Florrie, Jennie, Edie, Maggie, and Tom (his brother-in-law, in Plymouth). - 11, Joliffe Street.”

His sons were 9 and 6 years old when Thomas was killed. Adopted daughter Edith Lundberg was 12.

His widow Annie received Thomas’ Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £4.  Annie, at 11 Joliffe Street, Liverpool (another pension card shows 9 Joliffe Street), was awarded an Alternative Pension of £1-10s a week from February 1918 for herself and three children. 

Annie remarried in Carnarfonshire in 1921 to James Robinson, probably Thomas’ younger brother as James is a boot repairer in Colwyn Bay in 1911. When Annie recorded her details with the CWGC when she registered Thomas's death with the Commission, she was living at 44 Sea View, Colwyn Bay.

Annie C. Robinson, 54, married, is at the same address, 44 Sea View, Colwyn Bay, in 1939, with husband James, 52, born 11th October 1887, a boot and shoe repairer. Also with them is Edith E. Lundberg, 34, domestic servant, and Janet M. Lundberg, 76, widow, incapacitated, and Doris G.(?) Robinson, 25, born 17/3/1914 (possibly the child of James Robinson from a previous marriage). 

Thomas is commemorated on the following Memoirals:

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 44 Left

Colwyn Bay War Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Thomas Robinson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.