ROBINSON John Yate

Also appears on Hanbury St. Werburgh’s Church in Staffordshire.
Awarded Military Cross (M.C.)

John Yate Robinson and his twin brother Laurence Milner Robinson were born on 6th August 1885 in Catford, London, the sons of Edward Cecil Robinson (1848 – 1941) and Edith Isabella Robinson (nee Milner, 1861 – 1952). He was educated at Radley College and Merton College, Oxford where he played in the cricket, football and hockey teams. He won a gold medal with the English hockey team at the 1908 summer Olympics in London. When he left University he took employment as a Schoolmaster first at Sherborne Prep School and later at Broadstairs Kent. When war broke out in 1914 John gained a commission in the North Staffordshire Regiment and after training he sailed with his battalion in June 1915, arriving in Gallipoli a month later. He was Mentioned in Dispatches in 1915. On 26th January 1916 the battalion arrived in Egypt and on 2nd February 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross. A month later they were in Mesopotamia as part of a force sent to relieve the British garrison at Kut; however, the beleaguered force surrendered to the Turkish forces before help could arrive. During April 1916 the battalion were involved in fighting on the River Tigris and John Robinson received a spinal injury. He was brought back to England where he died of his injuries at Roehampton Hospital on 23rd August 1915.

1891 Census
Lewisham, London
Edward C. Robinson, head, age 42, Vicar, St Laurence, Catford, born Liverpool, Lancashire
Edith I. Robinson, wife, age 29, born Norwood Surrey
Edward B. Robinson, son, age 8, born Catford, Kent
John Y. Robinson, son, age 5, born Catford, Kent
Laurence M. Robinson, son, age 5, born Catford, Kent
Henry E. Robinson, son, age 4, born Catford, Kent
Hugh M. Robinson, son age 1, born Catford, Kent
Nicholas Robinson, brother, age 48, born Liverpool, Lancashire

1901 Census
Hanbury Vicarage, Hanbury, Staffordshire
Edward C. Robinson, head, age 52, Clergyman Church of England, born Liverpool, Lancashire
Edith I. Robinson, wife, age 39, born Norwood S.E., Surrey
John Y. Robinson, son, age 15, born Catford S.E., Kent
Geoffrey A. Robinson, son, age 8, born Catford S.E., Kent
Charles S. G. Robinson, son, age 11 months, born Hanbury, Staffordshire
Also present in the house was a governess, a cook, 3 maids and a nurse