Photo: Brian Chandler
The family headstone reads:
In loving memory
of
Pte. John Edward Robson
M.T.A.S.C.
dearly beloved son of
John and Ann Robson
of Emmerson House, Westerhope
who died November 16th 1918
aged 26 years.
At rest.
Also the above
John Robson
died March 4th 1932
aged 63 years.
Also the above
Ann Robson
died June 14th 1948
aged 76 years.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Edward Robson, one of 8 children of whom only 7 survived, was the second born of 5 brothers and had 3 younger sisters. His father John Robson was born in the district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland in 1870, his mother Ann Stothert, in 1871 at Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham, where she was baptised at Saint James’, December 27th 1871 and married there, November 3rd 1890. Their son William Stothert Robson was born in 1891 whilst they were living at 9, Heworth Street, Felling, Gateshead, where John was employed as a colliery horseman. John Edward was born at Felling in 1892 before they transferred to Fatfield, birthplace of Margaret in 1895, Lilian was born at Picktree, Chester-le-Street in 1896, Miriam at Boldon in 1900 and Albert Victor, July 26th 1901 at Picktree, as his father, having abandoned his employment at the colliery, was now an agricultural labourer and still the only bread-winner. Unfortunately, their daughter Miriam died in 1903 aged 4 years, it was a further 3 years before Ann gave birth to son Arthur in 1906 and then Harold in 1910 listed as having been born at Nova Scotia which was one of 2 pits at Harraton Colliery near Washington, County Durham. In 1911 only 5 of their children were still living at home, they had also transferred from County Durham to Northumberland, occupying 5 rooms at Emmerson House, Westerhope, near Newcastle-upon-Tyne. John Robson was now self-employed as a dairyman, William (20) a putter at the colliery, Lilian (14) remained at home with her mother and baby Harold (1) whilst Albert Victor (9) and Arthur (5) were scholars.
Prior to the commencement of WW1, John Edward, declaring he was 20 years 10 months old, employed as a blacksmith’s striker at Walbottle Colliery, enlisted, March 6th 1913, at Newburn. Assigned to the 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, a Territorial Force in peacetime, as Private 1147, he was trained with the battalion at their annual camp July 27th-August 8th 1913. Upon the declaration of war Private Robson was embodied into the 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, August 5th 1914, until being discharged October 27th 1914, at Gosforth Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, having been found, “medically unfit for further military service.”
Determined to serve his Country he enlisted for a second time, assigned as Private 080706 to the Army Service Corps he departed to France, October 3rd 1915, posted to Mechanical Transport with the prefix M2 added to his service number, not entirely clear, this is believed to indicate he enlisted into the New Armies. The Mechanical Transport Companies, part of the Lines of Communication, were not under the orders of a Division, although those of the Divisional Supply Columns and Ammunition Parks worked closely with a given Division. The men of the A.S.C. were also Omnibus Companies, Motor Ambulance Convoys or Bridging or Pontoon units.
Members of the Army Service Corps were the unsung heroes of the British Army, soldiers cannot fight without food, equipment or ammunition, cannot move without horses or vehicles. It was the job of the A.S.C. to provide all of this in the Great War on many fronts where they performed with an organisation which helped Britain win the war.
Private M2/080706 John Edward Robson Army Service Corps, suffering from a bout of influenza, was repatriated to the United Kingdom, exact date unknown, where he was admitted to the Military Hospital, York and died of pneumonia, November 16th 1918. He was 26 years of age and single, awards 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
At the request of and paid for by his family, the Army organised that his body be brought home to Westerhope, where he was interred with military honour within St. John’s Churchyard, Whorlton, Northumberland. Although classed as a casualty of war in place of a military headstone his parents preferred to erect a family headstone on the grave.
All monies owed to him by the Army were assigned to his father, his mother made a claim to them for a pension.
His parents also bore the pain of loosing their son Albert Victor, in 1945, serving as First Radio Officer aboard the S.S. Empire Gold. He left a wife, Gladys Robson nee Forster, sister of Private Matthew Forster who perished in WW1 and daughter Myra.
John Robson died, March 4th 1932 aged 63 years, Ann Robson nee Stothert, aged 76 years, June 14th 1948, they too were laid to rest at St. John’s with their, “dearly beloved son.”
In God’s safe keeping, Rest In Peace.
John Edward Robson is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01
