Rushden Research Group: Thomas Robinson 1915

Private Thomas Robinson

12940 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment

Son of Mr Simon & Mrs Florence N Robinson

Aged 24 years

Died 9th May 1915

Commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Panel 28-30.

Born at Irchester, enlisted at Northampton.

Brother of Ralph C Robinson.

Evening Telegraph, Friday 14th May 1915, transcribed by John Collins.

Another Rushden Hero Dies For His Country

We regret to learn of the death at the front of Private Tom Robinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, of Midland-road, Rushden, and of the Northants Regiment, who was killed in action during recent operations. Pte. Robinson enlisted at the end of last August, and had been at the front about three months. A soldier who had been his friend in the trenches wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson to inform them that their son was recently shot through the head. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have another son in Kitchener’s Army, Tom being their eldest. Much sympathy will be felt with them in their sad bereavement.

The Rushden Echo, 14th May, 1915, transcribed by Jim Hollis

Rushden Soldier Killed - Another Rushden Man Wounded - Victims of The Big Battle

Pte. F. S. Whiting (Rushden), son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Whiting, of Rushden, of the 1st Northants. Regiment, has written to his parents to say that Private Tom Robinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, who live in their house on the allotment Washbrook-road, Rushden, has been killed in action, and that Pte. W. Willis, son of Mr. Harry Willis, of Rushden, has been wounded. He writes:-

“I suppose by the time you get this letter you will have heard about the big battle that has been going on the last day or two, but I am very pleased to say I have got through it almost without a scratch so far, but the worst part about it was we were lying in water and mud for about 15 hours. It is the worst thing I have ever seen and do not wish to see it again. The shell fire was very terrible, and then after we got through that we were running among hundreds of bullets. Tom Robinson was killed, I am sorry to say. Bill Willis is wounded, not very serious and Tear is not hurt.”

Mrs. Whiting acquainted Pte.Tom Robinson’s parents with the sad news yesterday.

Evening Telegraph, Monday 14th June 1915, transcribed by John Collins.

Rushden Hero Killed

Mr. S. Robinson, of Midland-road, Rushden, has now received the official intimation of the death of his son, Pte. Tom Robinson, of the 1st Northants Regt. A letter from Pte. W. Smith, a close friend of the deceased soldier gives fuller details. Pte. Robinson was killed by a piece of shell which struck him in the head, in the great charge made by the Northamptons on May 9th. Pte. Smith has been good enough to send home his watch, chain and cap badge as mementoes of the sad event. Pte. Robinson enlisted last August, and after training at Weymouth and Sunderland went to the front in January. He was formerly a player in the Fosse football team, generally playing in the position of full back. Much sympathy has been expressed towards the parents, who greatly appreciate these expressions.

Rushden Echo, 5^th May 1916, transcribed by Gill Hollis

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of our dear Son,
Thomas Robinson, who was killed in action on May 9^th, 1915.

He sleeps not in his native land,
But under foreign skies,
Far from those that love him best,
But in a soldier’s grave he lies.

click here to return to the WWI list of names