Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Andrew Henry Robinson, known as Harry, born on 28 June 1895 at Fairlie, was the eldest son of English-born parents, Henry Thomas and Sophia (née Bodley) Robinson. He was born on 28 June 1895 at Fairlie and baptised at St Stephen’s, Fairlie on 20 July 1895. Harry and his sister Mena were educated at Fairlie School until December 1906 when the family – mother, father, and four children - moved to the North Island. Harry also attended St Stephen’s Sunday School at Fairlie. Before the harvest thanksgiving service in April 1901, he was one of the scholars who were awarded prizes for gaining most marks at the Diocesan Inspector’s last annual examination. His was second prize in Class 1. The following year at the annual prize-giving at St Stephen’s, he gained first prize in the Infant Division, his sister Mena gaining third prize. The Superintendent explained that the prizes were awarded on the recommendations made by the Diocesan Inspector. By 1911 the family was at Napier.

In October 1916, Andrew Henry Robinson responded to Wellington’s call to arms and was one of 66 fit recruits who were registered and sworn in as soldiers at the Town Hall Recruiting Office. He was 21 years 4 months old at enlistment (17 October 1916). A. H. Robinson, attached to the Infantry, was one of the men who formed the draft from No. 5 Group (Wellington City and Suburbs) for the 28th Reinforcements, in April 1917. Come July 1917, he went into camp with No. 5 Group (Wellington City), which completed the local quota for the 31st Reinforcements. Harry Robinson was employed as a railway fireman, was single and of Church of England allegiance, and was still serving with the Railway Engineers. His address was 10 Featherston Terrace, Wellington, where he had been when listed on the Reserve Roll. He named his father as next-of-kin - H. T. Robinson, Ashbridge [sic, Ashridge] Road, Napier. Standing at 5 feet 6¼ inches, weighing 132 pounds, and with a chest measurement of 31-34½ inches, Robinson had a pale complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all normal, as were his heart and lungs; his limbs and chest well formed. He had full movement of all joints, but poor teeth. In good bodily and mental health, free of diseases and defects, and vaccinated, he was assessed as fit.

Private Andrew Henry Robinson embarked with the Otago Infantry Regiment of the 30th Reinforcements, leaving Wellington for Liverpool, England, per the “Corinthic” on 13 October 1917. He disembarked on 8 December and marched in to Sling, and on 14 February 1918 proceeded overseas to join his battalion in France. It was mid April 1918, when it was reported that he had been wounded on 3rd April. Having suffered gunshot wounds to his back in Action in the Field in France, he was admitted to the No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance and the next day to the No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital at Doullens. By the end of April, the report was that he had died of his wounds on 5th April 1918 in France, this in the Canadian Stationary Hospital. Just 22 years old, Andrew Henry Robinson had seen fewer than seven weeks service and was buried in foreign soil - Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1, Somme, France.

Harry was well known in Napier. The family was also well remembered in the Fairlie district, and Mr Robinson had fond memories of Fairlie. In April 1919, after having left Fairlie in 1906, Harry Robinson - the father of young Harry who lost his life just a year before – was warmly welcomed at a meeting of the Gladstone Lodge while on a short visit to the district. In acknowledging the reception extended to him Brother Robinson stated that he often thought of the many friends he had left among the Oddfellows of Fairlie when he left the district. “He was glad to know that they had not forgotten him. He was still active in the work of the Order, and never failed to wear the handsome regalia given him by his mother Lodge when taking his departure.” He conveyed fraternal greetings from Star of Napier Lodge, which were reciprocated. A motion of sympathy with Brother and Mrs Robinson in the loss of their eldest son at the front was then passed in the usual manner.

Private A. H. Robinson’s personnel file noted that a copy of pay book Will, dated 14.2.1918, was left with A. T. Robinson (should have read H. T. Robinson), Napier. Said Will was signed on 6 October 1917 at Trentham. “I . . . bequeath all my property . . . unto my parents Henry Thomas Robinson and Sophia Robinson in equal shares and I appoint my said parents to be Executors hereof.” It appears that no probate was executed. On 3 October 1919 Mr Robinson applied for the Overseas War-Service Gratuity, but on 20 February 1920 it was “not payable”, as he was not himself the serviceman concerned. His medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal - were sent to his executor, Mr H. T. Robinson (father), Ashbridge Road, Napier, as were the memorial plaque and scroll. The Robinson family, it is said, spent time in England, either late in the war or post war. The parents and sister Mena do not appear on the 1919 New Zealand Electoral Roll, the two younger sons not being of voting age then. They were all home in Napier by 1928.

Harry’s younger brother, Wilfred Hooton Robinson, served in World War II. Two cousins lost their lives in World War I – Daniel Bodley and Joseph Walker, who were both killed in action in September 1916 at the Somme, France. Additionally, four more cousins served - Edward James Carr (with the Australians), James Robert Bodley, Alfred Walker and William Moreland.

Mr and Mrs Robinson died in 1945 and 1957 respectively and are buried in the Park Island Cemetery at Napier. The portrait from the Auckland Weekly News 1918 is attached to the Cenotaph Record. The name of Andrew Henry Robinson is a 2015 addition to the Tiimaru Memorial Wall and a 2016 addition to the Mackenzie War Memorial at Fairlie. Napier’s original World War I Roll of Honour was destroyed in the 1931 earthquake. The Napier War Memorial Hall was opened on 14 July 1957. When it was rebuilt and rededicated as the Napier War Memorial Conference Centre in 1995, a new First World War Roll of Honour was added. The name of Private Andrew H. Robinson is inscribed on one of the plaques.

Sources

Auckland War memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [2 February 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5550 0098859) [17 April 2014]; CWGC [3 February 2014]; ancestry.co.au [2 February 2014]; Timaru Herald, 23 April 1901, South Canterbury Times, 23 April 1901, 29 April 1919, Temuka Leader, 15 April 1902, Evening Post, 19 October 1916, 5 July 1917, Dominion, 16 April 1917, Otago Daily Times, 18 & 30 April 1918, Hastings Standard, 22 April 1918 (Papers Past) [09 January 2016; 18 May 2020]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2014; 18 May 2020]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [2014; 18 May 2020]; St Stephen’s Baptism register (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [18 May 2020]; Napier War Memorial Conference Centre (NZ History) [18 May 2020]; Our City - Landmarks – War Memorials (Napier City Council) [18 May 2020]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available.

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS