Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Frank McLaren Robinson was born on 13 January 1889 at Dunedin, the eldest son of Gladstone Robinson and his wife Eva Louisa née Bathgate, later of “Oakwood”, Gleniti, Timaru. Gladstone Robinson came to New Zealand from his native Gloucestershire, England, in 1880 and worked as a shepherd in various parts of Otago through the 1880s. He married Dunedin-born Eva Louisa Bathgate in 1888. Gladstone purchased the Merino Downs Estate in the Waikoikoi district of South Otago and there he farmed sheep during the 1890s; while Eva returned to Dunedin for the births of the older children. In 1891 Mr and Mrs Robinson took a trip to the Old Country, one of eight that Gladstone was to make. One presumes that little Frank went with them. In mid 1899 Mr and Mrs Gladstone Robinson took a trip Home, accompanied by their three little children – Master F. M., Miss E. and Master C. G. Mr and Mrs G. Robinson and Master Frank Robinson travelled from Dunedin to Christchurch by train in late September 1899. Perhaps they were taking young Frank to Christ’s College, where he was educated. Frank Robinson started at Christ’s College, Christchurch, in September 1899, when he was just 10½ years old. It was after the trip to England that Mr Robinson purchased, in 1900, Otumarama Estate, situated at Gleniti about four miles from Timaru. Described as “a magnificent property of 1300 acres, with substantial steadings”, it also included “one of the finest country residences in South Canterbury.” It was at Otumarama that the fourth child was born in 1901. Three more children were born at Timaru, one of the twins dying when a day old. In November 1902 the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles attended their annual training camp in a well sheltered and convenient paddock belonging to Mr Gladstone Robinson at Gleniti. Five years later, Mr Gladstone Robinson sold Otumarama, but repurchased a block of it, where “Oakwood”, a pretty home designed by Timaru architect James Turnbull, was built in 1906.

Young Frank was at Christ’s College until at least 1901. At the annual sports in October 1900, Frank competed in the Quarter-mile Handicap for chapel choir boys, with a 50 yards handicap. Was he the F. Robinson who came home in first place in the Timaru High School junior steeplechase run on 10 October 1902? Later in October 1902, at the Timaru Show, Master Frank Robinson finished in fourth place on his pony Maori. Again in October 1905, at the Christ’s College annual sports, F. M. Robinson started in the Half-Mile event. In the Timaru district in May 1904 Frank Robinson followed the hunt on Kowhai. This was the most popular meet of the season, held at the Levels. Not only were the hounds in good fettle, but the hospitality was much appreciated. F. Robinson rode Wanaka in the hunt at Seadown in May 1909, when a good scent provided for exciting chase, but the afternoon turned cold and all made for home.

On leaving school, Frank pursued a career in farming. By 1911 he was a runholder at Wendon near Riversdale, Southland. He had taken the lease of Wendon Run, in June 1910 applying for and being granted permission to erect two miles of fencing. Mr F. M. Robinson (Wendon) got a good price for his wool offered by Dalgety and Co. at Dunedin in February 1914 – 7 bales halfbred 11¾d, 9 bales halfbred hogget 11¼d. In September 1914 he subscribed to the Riversdale (and surrounding districts) Patriotic Fund. Dalgety and Co again offered wool (halfbred ewe) on behalf of F. M. Robinson at the Dunedin sales on 4 February 1916.

On the outbreak of war in August 1914, Gladstone Robinson was one of the Timaru locals who contributed to the War Fund, Mrs Robinson giving the next day. A few months later Mrs Robinson was to donate blankets. Throughout the war, Mr and Mrs Robinson were regular donors to the war funds, financially and in goods. They also contributed to other causes – St Mary’s Church, the Otago Medical School, the Bay development, The Art Gallery, Red Cross work, animal welfare, lepers. Frank McLaren Robinson enlisted on 10 February 1916, aged 27 years 1 month. A runholder, single, and of Church of England affiliation, he was resident at Wendon Run via Gore, and he nominated his father as next-of-kin – Gladstone Robinson, Gleniti, Timaru. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, and had a fair complexion, bluish grey eyes and fair hair. Frank did not desire to make a Will. While in Southland, Frank regularly visited his parents, and did so in January 1916. He embarked with the 13th Reinforcements, New Zealand Field Artillery, at Wellington per the “Willochra” on 27 May 1916, destined for England. Mr and Mrs Gladstone Robinson, Oakwood, and Miss Giles, Otiritiri, went to Wellington to see off the Thirteenth Reinforcements. Perhaps Frank and Eleanor were already engaged. He incurred seven days’ detention on the troopship. On disembarking at Devonport on 26 July, he was admitted to hospital. On 17 October 1916 he proceeded overseas to France from Sling. At Etaples he was deprived of two days’ pay for absence from training school without permission. Robinson was granted two weeks’ leave in the UK in August 1917. Just a few weeks later he went on leave to Paris for a few days.

In January 1918, F. McL. Robinson was in hospital, reported to be not a severe case. He had, in fact, been admitted to the No. 2 Australian Hospital in France on 23 December 1917, suffering from mild pyrexia of unknown origin. Four days later he was admitted to the Mile End Military Hospital in London, suffering from pleurisy. From there he was transferred to the Convalescent Depot at Hornchurch on 6 February 1918. Gunner F. M. Robinson had spent eight months in hospital before returning home on Troopship 187. While at sea, he was admitted to the ship’s hospital, with vomiting and syncope. The “Ionic” which carried a large number of invalided and wounded soldiers, left Plymouth on 24 August 1918 and arrived at Auckland on 6 October. Officers and men on the troopship complained of the fare and accommodation. Some of the returning men were forced to purchase extra supplies from the ship’s staff. One dormitory was said to be overcrowded. During this same voyage an experiment was made to provide daily instruction for soldiers – farming (the most popular), commerce, economics, English history, general knowledge, French, English, mathematics, technics, shorthand, book-keeping, chemistry, and architecture. Frank Robinson of Wendon Station was one of many South Islanders who had been to see the Old Country stock in their own environment. Immediately on his return, Frank stayed with his parents at Oakwood. Gunner F. M. Robinson was discharged on 1 January 1919, being no longer physically fit for war service on account of chronic pulmonary disease. Frank McLaren Robinson had spent over two years abroad but little time at the front. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, these being sent to Rata Peaks, Peel Forest in 1921.

Frank and his oldest sister Evelyn Robinson, requested that renewal of their leases in the Wendon district be dealt with in “the present time” (January 1919), all being renewed in one lease at an annual rent. On 30 January 1919 at St Mary's Anglican Church, Timaru, Frank Robinson, the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Gladstone Robinson, Oakwood, married Edith Eleanor Giles (Eleanor), a descendant of the Canterbury pilgrims. At that time he was a runholder, resident at Gleniti. Frank’s youngest sister, Kathleen, was one of the little bridesmaids. Shortly afterwards, Frank took up a block of 1800 acres in the Parnassus district and, under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act, transferred his Wendon land. Thereafter Frank was to be found at the Addington Market, selling his fat lambs through Dalgety and Co, Ltd, and cows, fat sheep, wethers. By early 1920, however, Frank and Eleanor had acquired “Rata Peaks” at Peel Forest. It was while at “Rata Peaks” that their first four children were born in Timaru, before they sold up in October 1926 and returned to North Canterbury, where Frank Robinson bought Grassdale and Benmore runs (15,800 acres).

Frank and Eleanor lived in the Springfield district until their retirement to Nelson. A pleasure launch, built of strong kauri and highly powered, was launched at Port Chalmers in June 1930, for Mr F. M. Robinson, of Benmore Station, Springfield. Christened the Dugong, a name meaning the mother of mermaids, it would be based at Sumner or Lyttelton, and in the summer months it would hunt for shark and sword-fish. The launch made a record run from Akaroa to Lyttelton in about three hours. Some years later, renamed the Ikarere and under new ownership, the launch made another very fast run. Frank continued to get top prices for his stock – a “fine line of station sheep” and the “best of the four-year prices” – at the Sheffield Ewe sales, while he still supported the Addington Market and the Oxford Ewe Fair. Frank was elected a vice-president of the Malvern Cricket sub-Association, and a vice- president of the Malvern Collie Club. In 1945 he lent “Benmore” sheep for the collie dog trials, the proceeds going to the local Returned Services’ Association funds. He was also involved with the Canterbury Winter Sports Club, transporting bulk winter stores from Springfield and packing them up to the hut with borrowed horses. He was elected to the Cass Riding of the Tawera County Council. They attended their children’s school sports and fancy dress parties in Christchurch and they visited Frank’s parents at “Oakwood”.

Frank McLaren Gladstone Robinson died suddenly on 28 July 1969 at Blenheim, aged 80 years. He was predeceased by Eleanor and his oldest daughter and survived by his second wife Jean, and five children. He was cremated at Whakapuaka, Nelson.

Frank is remembered (as “Also Served”) on the Gleniti War Memorial, erected between the two main doors of the old Gleniti School, and unveiled on 27 December 1919. The unveiling ceremony commenced with the singing of the National Anthem and closed with all singing “God Save the King”. The Ven. Archdeacon Jacob, who had come out from Timaru with Rev. Father Bartley, spoke of the great object lesson of duty which had been taught to future generations by those who had made such great sacrifices in the war. The schoolchildren, whenever they looked at the tablet, would remember and be proud of those who had fought to keep their country free from the horrors of invasion.

In 1908 Frank’s mother distributed all 127 class and sewing prizes at Gleniti School, being cheered afterwards. Mrs Robinson was on the committee to establish the Timaru war memorial. She expressed her preference for a memorial which would combine grandeur, simplicity and nobility. Mr Robinson was a strong supporter of St Mary’s Church, Timaru, serving as a vestryman and church warden for some years. Mr and Mrs Gladstone Robinson supported St Saviour’s Orphanage, both financially and in services – they took an “untiring interest in the Home.” They also donated to the Sailors’ Rest. Mr Robinson lived at “Oakwood” for 30 years, dying there in 1936. He retired from farming in 1921, but kept the homestead and a few acres of land. The balance of the “Oakwood” estate was purchased in 1920 for settlement of discharged soldiers after World War I. The 445 acres were described as first-class agricultural and dairying land. Mrs Robinson lived in her later years in Timaru and died there in 1954. Frank’s oldest sister, Evelyn Robinson, who had nursed at Dunedin Hospital throughout the war, married in December 1919 at Bristol, England. His second sister, Margaret Gladstone Robinson, married George Henry Romer Ulrich in March 1927 at the Highfield Presbyterian Church, Timaru. And his youngest sister, Kathleen Gladstone Robinson, was engaged in April 1937, in England. All three sisters died in New Zealand.

Frank Robinson’s brother, Claude Gladstone Robinson who served with the British forces, was killed in action on 20 October 1915. Four Robinson cousins lost their lives in the war - Edward Colston Robinson and Geoffrey Wathen Robinson were killed in action in France on successive days in September 1915; Clifford Kossuth Robinson, who had been with the family at “Oakwood” and went with the New Zealand forces, died of disease in December 1915 at Malta; and Eric Arthur Robinson died in September 1916, of wounds received at the Somme. His youngest brother, Clifton Gladstone Robinson, served in World War II.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [2 February 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5550 0098924) [26 August 2014]; NZ BDM historical records (Department of Internal Affairs) [December 2013]; Otago Daily Times, 16 January 1889, 8 August 1893, 25 September 1899, 23 June 1910, 19 February 1914, 5 February 1916, 18 February 1920, Mataura Ensign, 18 January 1889, 8 September 1914, Otago Witness, 16 April 1891, 10 August 1893, 9 June 1898, 21 September 1899, 22 June 1910, 5 March 1913, 26 January 1916, 16 October 1918, Evening Star, 23 September 1899, 24 June 1930, Star, 23 September 1899, Timaru Herald, 18 December 1899, 10 July 1901, 17 October 1902, 20 May 1904, 4 April 1905, 15 July 1907, 26 December 1908, 7 May 1909, 1 November 1909, 10 & 11 August 1914, 2 September 1914, 30 November 1914, 18 December 1914, 13 March 1915, 29 June 1915, 18 August 1915, 7 October 1918, 1 February 1919 [x 2], 27 December 1919, 14 February 1920, 20 March 1920, 7 October 1921, 10 December 1924, 26 July 1926, 3 November 1926, Lyttelton Times, 12 October 1900, Oamaru Mail, 31 October 1902, Press, 22 November 1902, 12 May 1919, 11 December 1926, 10 August 1927, 21 March 1929, 8 May 1930, 25 September 1930, 18 March 1931, 1 April 1931, 27 October 1932, 19 October 1934, 6 & 9 May 1935, 13 July 1936, 20 August 1936, 6 May 1937, 6 & 14 April 1938, 15 March 1939, 31 August 1939, 13 March 1940, 11 April 1940, 1 April 1941, 17 March 1943, 15 March 1944, 14 March 1945, 1 June 1945, Star, 12 October 1905, 3 February 1919, Progress, 1 July 1907, Dominion, 25 January 1918, 8 October 1918, New Zealand Times, 30 September 1918, Southland Times, 11 October 1918, 17 January 1919, 23 June 1919, Auckland Star, 29 October 1918, Sun, 21 January 1920 (Papers Past) [18 November 2013; 4 February 2014; 15 & 16 June 2015; 10, 11 & 12 January 2016; 09 September 2016; 21, 22, 23 & 25 May 2020]. Marriage certificate - St Mary's Anglican Church, Timaru (South Canterbury Branch NZSG photocopy collection) [March 2014]; The Times, London, 30 April 1937; Timaru Herald, 29 & 30 July 1969 (Timaru District Library) [08 January 2016]; Nelson cremation record (Nelson City Council); Christ’ College Grammar School list (ancestry.com.au) [09 January 2016]; Who’s Who in New Zealand, 1938 (ancestry.com.au) [09 January 2016]; SCRoll web submission by R Toth, 18 September 2015; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [11 January 2016]

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