Robert Robson
Redheugh Gas Works
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Robson was the eldest son of Matthew Cook Robson born 1866 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland and his wife Margaret Jane Laidler of Gateshead, County Durham born 1868, whom he married in the parish of St. James, Gateshead in 1886. Robert was born in 1887, Christina 1889, James 1890, Caroline 1891 and Thomas William 1895. The family was living at 16, Cowan Street, Gateshead in 1891 as Matthew was employed at the iron works. By 1908 their marriage was over and Margaret Jane had remarried in the district of Durham to George Burlison, a widower, his wife Mary (Oxnard) had died in 1907 leaving him with 5 children between the ages of 11 and 2. George and Margaret Jane left Gateshead and moved to 26 Durham Street, Brandon Colliery where George was employed as a hewer and his eldest son Richard (14) as a driver below ground, their lodger John Haddock also worked at the colliery as a putter. Only Caroline Robson (18) was living with them whilst her brothers Robert (23), Thomas William (16) and her father Matthew lived at 227, Derwentwater Road, Gateshead, with his widowed mother Caroline Robson (83). Thomas William was a fitters' apprentice at an engineering works, Matthew, a labourer and Robert, a fitter, were employed by Redheugh Gas Works, her other siblings were married.
Robert was married at Gateshead in 1912 to Frances Ann Turner, their son George Robert was born during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1914. On the outbreak of war Robert enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland September 1914, assigned as Private G/5883 to the Royal Sussex Regiment 9th (Service) Battalion one of the New Armies and joined his regiment at their camp on the South Downs near Brighton. During their training the new recruits could often be seen marching on the seafront. Attached to the 73rd Brigade, 24th Division in December 1914 they moved to Portslade, in April 1915 to Shoreham, by June they were at Woking in Surrey and departed for France August 31st 1915 landing at Boulogne the following day. At the time of his departure his second child Edith was only a few months old.
Within a few weeks they were participating during the Battle of Loos suffering heavy casualties. The division left France for Belgium, the 9th Battalion fought at Hooge near Ypres, February 14th 1916 followed by Wulverghem where the Germans attacked using gas. They joined the fighting on the Somme August 11th-22nd and again August 31st-September 2nd at the Battle of Delville Wood and participated at the Battle of Guillermont September 3rd-5th 1916 before withdrawing from the front line trenches and undertaking day to day trench warfare.
Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Corporal G/5883 Robert Robson was killed in action October 3rd 1916 and interred at Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, Pas de Calais, France, grave IV. A. 4. He was 29 years of age.
His widow Frances Ann received all monies due to him, his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension for herself and their children, sent to her at 68, Queen's Street, Gateshead, County Durham.
Robert’s half brother Richard Burlison had been killed in Belgium 13 months earlier, November 11th 1915, aged 19 years and single, his brother Thomas William Robson also served during WW1 and survived the conflict although severely disabled.
Matthew Cook Robson died at Gateshead in 1933 aged 67 years, his ex-wife Margaret Jane Burlison-Robson nee Laidler aged 66 years in 1934. George Burlison died at in the district of Durham in 1954 aged 84 years of age.
In God's safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Robson is remembered at Redheugh on R43.01 at Teams on T68.02 and at Gateshead in G39.004 page 50
