Henry Howey Robson wearing his V.C.
Shields Gazette Undated Photo
Robson Close with Memorial in Front
Courtesy South Tyneside Libraries
Medal Index Card
Henry was educated at the Mortimer School until his parents moved to Shotton Colliery.
His father was a Miner in St Hilda's Colliery and his mother Mary (nee Morris) was a papermaker. They had married in Sunderland in 1884, and by 1911, Robson with six brothers and a sister were living at Shotton Colliery in County Durham.
Robson was 20 years old, and a private in the British Army during World War I when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On the 14th December 1914 near Kemmel, Flanders/Belgium, during an attack on a German position, Private Robson left his trench under very heavy fire and rescued a wounded NCO. Subsequently, during another attack, he tried to bring a second wounded man into cover, while exposed to heavy fire. In this attack he was wounded almost at once, but persevered in his efforts until wounded a second time.
He was presented with his V.C. by King George V at Buckingham Palace on July 12th 1915.
Three days later he attended a civic reception in South Shields, and later in the year was awarded the Freedom of the Borough from the Mayor Councillor David Richardson 6th October 1915. A total of £73 was raised for him through the Mayor's 'Shilling Appeal'. His old school in the town at Mortimer Road, also presented him with a gold watch.
Robson returned to France in November 1916 and was wounded on the first day of the Battle of the Ancre.
After the war he worked as a steward on oil tankers running between Britain and South America.
Not uncommonly for the time, he sold his V.C. to a doctor for £80 to pay for his fare to to St. John's, New Brunswick in Canada in the spring of 1923.
Henry also was in the Labour Corps service number 349894 due to his wounds.
He married Alice Maude Martin, and they went on to have a son Henry, and four daughters, Doreen, Patricia, Victoria and Betty.
Robson returned to the UK for the Coronation in 1953, and again in 1956 for the Victoria Cross centenary celebrations.
In 1951, his V.C. had been bought by a Dunfermline solicitor, who lent it to him to wear at the V.C. Review in Hyde Park.
The Medal eventually was presented to the Royal Scots Museum in Edinburgh by Robson's daughter Patricia, where it is on display.
In Canada, he joined the Government service, becoming Sergeant-at-Arms in the Legislative Assembly in Ontario, until his death at age 70 on the 4th March 1964.
He is buried in York Cemetery in Toronto, Canada.
There is an article about him in the Shields Gazette (undated) which reads:Private H. H. Robson is a sample of the hero in whom modesty and bravery go hand in hand. In his letters home he has only stated the fact that he has been recommended for bravery. He has given no narrative of the heroism of the deed which has won him the most coveted decoration in the British Army the Victoria Cross. Private Robson is well known in South Shields where for many years he lived with his parents, residing in Garrick Street, before their removal to Shotton Colliery. Like his father he worked in the pits. He joined his regiment about three years ago and was stationed at Plymouth and expecting to go out to India when the war broke out. His regiment was called up in August and has been in the thick of the fighting. He is now in hospital as the result of his bullet wounds received while performing the feat of heroism which has won him his distinctions.
Source : James Hoy Archive
A V.C. Commemorative Paving Stone was unveiled to his honour in his home town of South Shields. Source: Shields Gazette 04/12/2014
Henry Howey Robson is remembered in South Shields on S86.0141 and S86.162l
There is also a road - Robson Close - named after him.