Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Private 332401 Robert Hollis Robson

Age: 34
From: Liverpool
Regiment: 13th Kings
Died on Thursday 28th March 1918
Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
Panel Ref: Bay 3

Robert Hollis Robson was born Robert Hollis in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in 1883. It is not known who his parents were. The Hollis family came from Draycott in Staffordshire, and at least two of his aunts settled in the Liverpool area.

In 1891 “Rob Hollis”, age 7, is living with his aunt, Elizabeth Adams (née Hollis), 40, and her eight children at 153 Wellington Road.

Robert has not been found on the 1901 census, nor on crew lists. A Robert Hollis, age given as 19, and birthplace Liverpool, is employed as a servant/dairyman with the Pollard family in Tagus Street, Toxteth Park. However, there is no birth record for a Robert Hollis of this age, so this is possibly Robert (he would have been 17).

By 1911 he is living with another aunt, Caroline Robson (née Hollis), her husband Henry Robson, and five children at 115 Rosebery Street, Toxteth Park. “Robert Hollen” (transcription error) is 27, employed as a cotton porter.

He evidently considered Henry and Caroline his adoptive parents and took the last name Robson. When he was 32, “Robert Hollis Robson” married Isabel Jones on 26th March 1916 in St. Mathew’s Church, Bootle, giving his address as 171 Worcester Road, Bootle, and his occupation as cotton porter. He gives his father as Harry Robson, also a cotton porter (the husband of his aunt Caroline who, in 1911 was a lift attendant, but on later records is found as a cotton porter).

He enlisted in Liverpool, and served as Private 332401, Robert Hollis Robson, 20th (Pals) Battalion.of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for two years, enlisting or being conscripted in about April 1916, shortly after he married. No records of children born to the marriage have been found.

At some point he was posted to the 13th Battalionn K.L.R. Whether with the 20th or the 13th Bn., Robert would have seen action in the later stages of the Battle of the Somme, at Arras in 1917, and Third Ypres (Passchendaele) later that year.

By March 1918 the 13th Battalion was in Brigade Reserve south of Arras which had been moved close to the line in view of an expected hostile attack. The battalion War Diary gives us an insight into the ferocity of the German attack which launched the start of Operation Michael, the German Spring Offensive -

At dawn on the 21st March the enemy suddenly put down an intense barrage of H.E. and gas shell on the whole of the Brigade Sector. The bombardment of the whole of the Battalion area was intense, many gas shells were used and box respirators were worn for several hours. But on the Brigade Front the attack had been held, and the Battalion was not called upon to move. The next day the onslaught continued, late in the afternoon the enemy had reached the wire, the wide belts of wire which the Germans had erected to protect the Hindenburg Line, and on which he was now making a frontal attack. The 13th were ordered to cover the withdrawal.

At 5 a.m. on the 24th the battalion marched to its battle positions in the Green Line and that afternoon relieved the Royal Scots in the 3rd System near Henin.

On the 27th their positions were heavily shelled throughout the day.

“On 28th March at 4:30 a.m. the enemy put down an intense barrage on the whole of our sector. The Trench Mortar barrage on the front line was more intense than anything previously experienced. The Reserve Line was barraged with field guns and heavies. Under cover of this barrage the enemy launched a terrific attack with masses of troops. In spite of the intensity of the bombardment the front line stood firm and poured a devastating fire into the enemy whose attack was beaten off with colossal casualties to the attackers.

“The value of this steadfastness against tremendous odds cannot estimated - it gave the enemy his first check at a point where he was to be subsequently checked throughout the day. The enemy came back again in a second attack with even greater numbers. The Battalion on our right were pressed back and the eemy poured in behind 'C' and 'D' companies from the right flank. What happened on the left flank is not known. All that is known is that these two companies, attacked on all sides, mounted the parapet and fought to a finish on the ground on which they stood. Under cover of the barrage the enemy came on up the hill to the reserve lines. Owing to the nature of the ground, he could not be observed along most of the battalion front until nearly on our wire. The barrage lifted, and in dense waves the Germans swept on to our lines. It was the beginning of a fierce battle which lasted until 2 p.m.

“The courage, coolness and endurance of the Garrison were beyond praise. Every rifle and Lewis Gun brought a tremendous volume of fire to bear on the approaching masses. In spite of his losses the enemy continued to push on until the thin line remaining could go no further, and turned down the slope. Our men mounted the parapet to keep him under fire as long as they could keep him in sight. The first attack on the first line had been beaten off, and our line was everywhere intact.

“All communication by wire was lost from the commencement of the action. Communication was however kept by lamp with the Brigade, and by this means some field guns were brought to cover our front on the Eastern side of the Menin Road.

“The enemy now resumed his barrage on our position by firing green lights. An intense barrage came down for 10 or 15 minutes. As soon as it lifted the enemy immediately came on to another attack. This also was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. Our flanks were still intact, but it was known that further to the left the enemy was making progress and our Left flank was becoming exposed. Twice again the enemy fell back, each time bringing down the barrage on our position with green lights, and pushing on his attack as soon as it lifted. About mid-day the enemy's fourth attack penetrated on our right. A block was immediately made and maintained about 150 yards fom the Road ...

“From mid-day onwards only about 500 or 600 yards of the reserve line remained in our hands, the troops on both flanks having fallen back some hundreds of yards. It was evident that when the next hostile attack came the position would inevitably be surrounded and would hold out no longer. However, it was decided to hold on, though the Brigade message informed us that no reinforcements were available. ... Withdrawal to support of the 4th Royal Fusiliers in the Green Line was then decided upon and orders were issued for an immediate withdrawal. It commenced at 3:30 p.m., the movement from the front line being covered by small posts and blocks and the defensive flank on the right remaining in position until all the garrison of the Reserve Line had moved off to the S.W. of Neuville Vitasse Road by the Sugar Factory. The enemy moving forward for another attack severely harassed the withdrawal, and it was only by great gallantry and initiative by individuals that the enemy was warded off until the line was clear.”

Robert was declared Missing on 28th March 1918, and his death later assumed, for official purposes, as having occurred on that date. His body was never recovered from the battlefield, or was subsequently lost, and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

The pension card (giving his battalion as 9th King’s) shows that his wife Elizabeth [sic] Robson, at 51 Saxony Road, Kensington, Liverpool, was awarded a pension of 13/9d a week from December 1918. Isabel received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £11.

His medal roll shows only service in the 20th and 13th Battalions of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

In 1939 Isabel, 56, is still living at 51 Saxony Road, with Arthur Jones (a possible relative). Isabel never remarried, and died in 1967, aged 85, still living in Saxony Road.

His adoptive parents, Henry Robson died in 1924, and his aunt Caroline in 1944.

Robert is remembered on 9th Kings.co.uk website.

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

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A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All