680774 GNR. A. ROBINSON.  R.F.A.

 

Arthur Robinson was born in the first quarter of 1890 in Preston.  His father was James Robinson (b. 1865 in Preston), a driver for a drapery and furnishing company.  His mother was Rachel Lomax (b. 1867 in Preston).  James and Rachel were married in 1888 and they had 6 children.  Arthur was the oldest ad he was followed by Frederick (b. 1891), Mary (b. 1897), Gertrude (b. 1899), Edith (b. 1903) and Beatrice (b. 1904).  In 1911, the family lived at 15 Sedberg Street, Preston.  Arthur was a driver working for a mineral water company.

 

In 1914 Arthur married Margaret Harrison (b. 1890 in Preston).  The couple lived at 14 Elmsley Street, Preston.  Arthur must have been in the Territorials before the War and was initially assigned service number 2392, which was later changed to 680774.  It appears he was first posted to “A” Battery of 276th Brigade and he landed in France with a small group of reinforcements on 23 December 1915.  However, Arthur was later transferred to “A” Battery of 230th Brigade.

 

230 Brigade formed part of the divisional artillery for 46th (North Midlands) Division.  46th Division were spared most of the action during the German Spring Offensive in 1918, but they rejoined the action during the 100 Days Offensive, at the Battle of the St Quentin canal including the capture of Bellenglise, the Battle of the Beaurevoir Line and finally the capture of Cambrai.  They were approaching the town from the south.  Arthur was wounded during this advance and died of his wounds on 9 October 1918 at 141st Field Ambulance at Bellicourt.  He was 28 years old.

 

Rank:  Gunner

Service No:  680774

Date of Death:  09/10/1918

Age:  28

Regiment/Service:  Royal Field Artillery.  “A” Battery, 230th Brigade

Cemetery/memorial reference: V. M. 1.

Cemetery/Memorial:  BELLICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY

 

Arthur’s brother Frederick also served in the Army.  He enlisted in the Border Regiment on 8 December 1915 and was mobilised just over a year later.  His service number was 3676 which later became 202182 and he was posted to 2/4th Battalion.    On 26 July 1917 he was posted to India. 2/4th (Cumberland and Westmorland) Battalion of the Border Regiment was in India throughout the War.  Fred had married before the War.  His wife was Alice Thompson (b. 1893 in Preston).  They had a son, Henry, in 1914.  Fred returned from India in 1919 and died in 1942.

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