ERNEST CECIL ROBINSON
Photo courtesy of Martin
Born: 1897, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Died: 12th March 1915; age 18; KiA by a shell near Neuve Chapelle.
The same shell also killed his friend Audley Arthur Green.
Residence: 120, Murray Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 8th November 1914.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 1810
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star.
Believed to be buried somewhere in this cemetery:
Memorial Reference:
Special Memorial 4.
Cuinchy,
Pas de Calais,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Second son of Harry & Amelia Robinson, of 120, Murray Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 45, Beaconsfield Road, Liverpool, Lancashire.
Ernest was 4 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Harry Robinson, 42, H. M. Customs Examining Officer – Civil Servant, born Newhaven, East Sussex.
Amelia Ann Robinson (nee Ankers), 34, born Liverpool, Lancashire.
Herbert Sidney Robinson, 9, born Liverpool.
Alice Louisa Robinson, 7, born Liverpool.
Edith Maude Robinson, 1, born Liverpool.
1911 210, Felixstowe Road, Ipswich.
Ernest was 14 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
Harry, 52, a Customs & Excise Examining Officer – Civil Service.
Amelia, 44.
Herbert, 19, a Mercantile Clerk – Leather Manufacturer.
Alice, 17.
Edith, 11.
Eveline May Robinson, 6, born Seaforth, Lancashire.
Walter Francis Robinson, 1, born Ipswich.
Ernest’s 6 year old sister, Mildred Florence Robinson, died on the 29th August 1908 in Ipswich and was buried on the 2nd September in Section Q of Ipswich Old Cemetery.
Soldiers’ Effects to Harry Robinson – father.
Ernest is also remembered on the war memorial at Northgate High School. Formerly Ipswich Grammar School for Boys, and on the St. Nicholas Congregational Church war memorial, once sited at St. Nicholas Street, Ipswich, and on his sister Mildred and parents’ headstone at Ipswich Old Cemetery, Section Q.
The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, 10th – 13th March 1915, was the first planned British offensive of the war. The objective was to take the German line at the Village of Neueve Chapelle and break out and head towards the City of Lille, with the main objective being to take the Aubers Ridge, beyond which was of strategic value. The Battle started well with a heavy bombardment of the German line (more shells fired on this occasion than the entire Boer War), with an advance which successfully took most of the first and second line trenches, but due to poor communications, it stalled once the village had been taken. The Germans then had time to set up more defensive lines outside of the village and hold the British advance. 40,000 British and Indian troops took part in the Battle with over 10,000+ Casualties.
Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion
The 4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment entered the battle on the 11th of March, taking up positions on the outskirts of Neuve Chapelle facing the Bois Du Biez, which was later ordered to occupy. The 4th Battalion lost many men through shelling on their positions, followed by a counterattack on the 12th by the Germans. In total, the Battalion sustained 217 casualties.
Suffolk Regiment, 4th Battalion:
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