ROBINSON, Walter

Walter Robinson was the son of George and Selina Robinson of 18 Mill Street, Cradley, and was well known in the local neighbourhood. He enlisted in the Staffords and was sent to the 8th (Service) Battalion in France. In 1916 they were in the second wave of the first day of the Battle of the Somme and were responsible for taking Fricourt and Mametz Wood. They were at Arras in April 1917 and then came into the front line in October for the later phases of the Third Battle of Ypres. They were involved in a major attack near Pilckem on the 12th October. The weather was cold and wet, typical of the Flanders campaign. The attack made little progress and the Staffords suffered heavily. Severely wounded, Private Walter Robinson was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station near Ypres where he died on the 27th October. He was 20 years of age and is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (I B 36). He is commemorated on the Blackheath, Cradley, Halesowen, Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.