Hooge Crater Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Hooge Crater Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Robson was the youngest of 6 known children, 4 sons and 2 daughters. Father Andrew Simpson Robson native of Walk and baptised at Humshaugh, Northumberland, November 1st 1857, having spent his youth growing up in rural Northumberland, by 1881 had settled with his family at Nest Road, Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham. Living at Coachman’s House, his father John was employed as a coachman and he now aged 23 years was a tailor. It was here that he met his future bride Elizabeth Mary Sharman born December 25th 1862 at Yarmouth, Norfolk, where she was baptised March 23rd 1863. She too had migrated with her family to the north east, they were married at Gateshead in 1882 subsequently moving to the Westgate area of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norhumberland. Over the next 11 years his wife gave birth to 6 children Mary, April 4th 1883, Thomas 1886, Barbara 1888, Walter 1890, Andrew Simpson 1891 and John 1893. In 1891 they occupied 81a, George Street, Andrew still plied his trade employed as a tailor. Elizabeth was widowed at a young age when Andrew Simpson Robson Snr died in 1896, aged 38 years, tragically Elizabeth Mary Robson nee Sharman died 8 years later aged 41 years in 1904.
What became of Thomas (18), Barbara (16) and Walter (14) is unknown, however Andrew (20) and John (18), in 1911, were living with their eldest sister Mary, her husband Thomas Finlison and their 3 children in 4 rooms at 12, Ferguson Court, Railway Street, Newcastle. Andrew was employed as a holder-up at the ship yard, John a pot working general labourer, presumably at Pottery Lane close by.
John Robson enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne exact date unknown, he was initially assigned as Private 204334 1/4th Yorkshire Regiment and was then transferred to the 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 245302. The main body of the battalion landed at Boulogne April 18th 1915 and within days were fighting on the Ypres salient in Belgium. Private John Robson departed for the front as of January 1916 and whilst in the field was transferred to the 1/10th Battalion D.L.I, 43rd Brigade, 14th Division. In June 1916 they were moved from Belgium to the Arras sector, France, then in August to the Somme participating during the battle to clear Delville Wood and at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. September 16th 1916 they attacked Gird trenches losing some 400 men killed or missing.
April 9th 1917 they saw action on the first day of the Arras Offensive which raged until May 16th. They crossed the Hindenburg Line, fought at the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe, the Battle of Langemark and in August 1917 returned to Belgium where they participated during the 1st and 2nd Battle of Passchendaele.
Private 245302 John Robson Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, August 23rd 1917, during the Battle of Inverness Copse as part of the 43rd Brigade, 14th Division, which had the task of taking the copses and the open ground between that and Glencourse Wood. The following day the division was pushed back by a German counterattack using bombing, machine guns and flamethrowers.
Initially buried by his comrades on the battlefield it was not until after the declaration of the Armistice, when at the request of the Belgian and French Governments, that the clearing of the battlefields began and smaller concentration of men were brought into larger cemeteries. Remains found in a grave at map reference J. 14. c. 6. 6. without a cross for identification were found to be those of Private John Robson. April 10th 1919 he was brought into Hooge Crater Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, for re-burial with full military honours by an Army chaplain and is at rest grave, VIII. C. 16. At the time of his demise in 1917, he was single and taking into account birth records, he was 24 years of age, the CWGC have him listed as 26 years of age.
All monies owed to him by the Army were divided amongst his siblings, Mr Thomas Robson of 3, Laurel Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Mr. Walter Robson, sisters Mrs. Mary Tinlinson, Mrs. Barbara Stephen and sister-in-law Mrs. Marjorie Ann Robson in place of his brother Andrew Simpson Robson who was killed 5 weeks after John, September 26th 1917, also in Belgium whilst serving as Private 29172 East Yorkshire Regiment.
Awards; British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Robson is possibly remembered at Elswick on E35.10
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page
