ROBINSON, Thomas John

Thomas Robinson was the son of Mrs E. Davies of 4 Little Street, Dudley. He was an early volunteer in 1914 and joined the Worcesters on a regular soldier engagement. He was sent to the 2nd Battalion who had been fighting on the Western Front since August 1914 and whose famous charge at Gheluvelt on the 30th October had saved the Allies in the first battle of Ypres. During the Winter of 1915 they were stationed in Artois near B?thune and manning front line trenches in alternation with other units at the village of Cuinchy. Reinforcements arrived, probably including Thomas Robinson, but it was a dangerous area with regular shelling and sniping. It was not until March that full scale attacks were planned by Sir John French and the Worcesters provided support for the nearby battle of Neuve Chapelle between the 9th and 12th March. Casualties for the 2nd Battalion were few but Private Thomas Robinson was killed in action probably by retaliatory shelling on the 16th March. He was 25 years of age and is buried in Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy, (II C 18) and is commemorated on the Dudley and St. John's, Kates Hill, Memorials.