Heslop’s Local Advertiser 15/05/1917
Arras Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Robinson was born 1893 in the parish of St. Paul’s, Winlaton, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 6 children he was the 3rd born of 4 sons and 2 daughters. His father William Robinson native of Walker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne born 1850 married Isabella Arkless of Cowpen, Northumberland born 1857, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1874. They moved between Newcastle and Felling over the years, in 1901 they were living at 3, Garden Terrace, Felling. William was employed at the colliery as a stone-man, son John (14) was a driver, both worked below ground, daughter Eleanor (17) worked as a milliner.
William Robinson died at Gateshead in 1907 aged 57 years, his widow and children moved to 2, Victoria Cottages, Felling. Isabella’s eldest daughter was married and had left the family home, John (24) worked below ground as a hewer as did Thomas (17) as a putter, Joseph (14) was a screener on the bank, Edward (20) was employed by an engineering firm as a machinist, Isabella (12) was a scholar.
On the outbreak of war Thomas enlisted at Felling in 1914, assigned as Private 21093 Cheshire Regiment and posted to the 16th Battalion. The 16th was a Bantam Battalion which admitted men who were under the normal regulation minimum of 5 feet 3 inches and mostly made up of miners and farm workers. After initial training at Birkenhead the battalion moved to Hoylake, in June 1915 they joined the 105th Brigade, 35th Division and by August 1915 were taken over by the War Office and sent to Salisbury Plain for final training. The Regiment was due to depart for Egypt in late 1915 when orders were cancelled and they departed for France in January 1916.
The Division landed at Le Havre and concentrated near St. Omer. The next months were spent in preparation for the offensive on the Somme which commenced July 1st 1916. They saw action at the Battle of Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Arrow Head Copse, Maltz Horn Farm and Falfemont Farm during the Battle of Guillemont September 3rd-6th 1916 before being withdrawn in reserve where their losses were replaced by a new draft of men. These did not prove to be as able as the first as the new recruits were from towns and below physical standard, 1439 were transferred to the Labour Corps.
The Cheshire Regiment did not take part in any further major battles on the Somme but were involved in day to day trench warfare in the sector. Private Robinson was reported as missing October 26th 1916, after investigations as to his whereabouts in May 1917 he was declared as dead.
The date of October 26th 1916 has been adopted as the official date of his death, his sacrifice is recorded as one of the 34,785 names of servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand inscribed on the Arras Memorial to the Missing within Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France, commemorating those who fell in the sector between spring 1916 and August 7th 1918 and who have no known grave. Private 21093 Thomas Robinson Cheshire Regiment was 33 years old and single.
His mother received all monies owed to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 2, Victoria Cottages, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham. Isabella Robinson nee Arkness died aged 79 years in 1935 registered at Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 15/05/1917 carries a notice which reads:
“Private Thomas Robinson, 16th Cheshire Regiment, missing since Oct. 26th, 1916, now reported killed in action. Son of Isabella H. and the late William Robinson, 2 Victoria Cottages, Felling.”
He is listed in Felling on F32.23
