Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/08/1917
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Robson Jnr was born at Gateshead, County Durham in 1896, the only son and one of 3 children born to William and Margaret Robson, his sister Ethel was born in 1894, Emily in 1900. His father William Snr died between 1900 and 1916.
William Jnr enlisted at Gateshead, April 28th 1915, assigned as Private 4272 to the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, some 1,000 strong, with the purpose of defending the County from foreign invasion, later that year transferred to the 1st/9th Battalion of the Regular Army renumbered as Private 45745.
He departed with his Regiment via Southampton as part of the British Expeditionary Force, June 22nd 1916, landing at Le Havre the following day. July 10th 1916 he was transferred to the 15th Battalion, 64th Brigade, 21st Division in the field, the Division was on the move from Flanders, south, to prepare for the opening of the Battles of the Somme.
July 1st 1916 at about 7.30 a.m. the 15th Battalion attacked the German front line at Fricourt, although they advanced taking 200 German prisoners they lost 450 men killed or wounded including their commanding officer. They did not take part in any other major battles on the Somme until October 1916, they did however engage in day to day trench warfare.
September 21st 1916, at roll-call, Private Robson was listed as missing, presumed wounded as he had not been seen since September 16th. His family were informed but after further investigation, during August 1917, his death was confirmed as, presumed to have been on or since September 16th 1916.
After Armistice during the clearing of the battlefields his remains were found along with that of 9 others at map reference 57c. N.31, by the 723rd Labour Coy, marked with a cross bearing his old military details as Private 4272 W. Robson 9th D.L.I. Inf. This error was corrected by the finding of an identity disc. His mother Margaret received a letter from the Infantry Record Office, dated March 19th 1920, stating, “ I beg to inform you that it has been necessary to exhume the remains of the late No. 45745, Private W. Robson, 15th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, for proper burial at A.I.F. Burial Ground, Grass Lane, 3 miles South South West of Bapaume…..duly marked with a cross…..with every measure of care and reverence and re-interment conducted by an Army Chaplain.
Private 45745 William Robson is at rest A.I.F. Burial Ground, Flers, Somme, France, grave III. G. 9. He was 21 years old and single.
His mother Margaret received all monies owed to him, a pension, the identity disc, which was the only forthcoming personal effects of her son and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 17, Field Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Heslop’s Local Advertiser 24/08/1917 carries a notice which reads:
“Private Wm. Robson, D.L.I., previously reported missing since Sept. 16th, 1916, now presumed dead, aged 21 years. Only son of Margt. and the late Wm. Robson of Felling Colliery.”
