Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Inter-War M.B.E. and R.V.M. group of eight awarded to Major J. Robinson, Lancashire Fusiliers, late Sergeant-Major, Scots Guards

The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 1st type, hallmarked London 1927; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen, South Africa 1901 (159 Serjt., Scots Gds.); 1914-15 Star (159 S.Mjr., S. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Q.M. & Capt.); The Royal Victorian Medal, E.VII.R., bronze, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (159 C.Sjt., S. Gds.); France, Medaille Militaire, the last with chipped obverse legend, some contact wear but generally very fine (8) £400-500

M.B.E. London Gazette 4 June 1928.

R.V.M. 27 August 1906: On the occasion of the disbandment of the 3rd Battalion, Scots Guards.

M.I.D. London Gazette 6 July 1917 (Egyptian Expeditionary Force).

Medaille Militaire London Gazette 24 February 1916.

John Robinson was born at Gosforth, Cumberland, and attested for the Scots Guards in 1893. Actively engaged as a Sergeant in the Boer War, he was advanced to Colour-Sergeant on his return to the U.K. in 1902, awarded the Royal Victorian Medal in 1906, and his L.S. & G.C. Medal in 1912. Between 1907 and 1916 he acted as Regimental Sergeant-Major of the 1st (Volunteer) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (later 5th and 1/5th Battalions) and witnessed extensive action on the Gallipoli Peninsula, where he was wounded. The Battalion landed on ‘W’ and ‘Y’ Beaches at Cape Helles on 5 May 1915, and advanced to positions above Gully Beach. The following day, in the Second Battle of Krithia, it sustained nearly 200 casualties and was withdrawn to Morto Bay, but was back in action during the Third Battle, 4-11 June, and suffered another 130 casualties. General Sir Ian Hamilton noted in his Gallipoli Diary that the Battalion ‘behaved with great gallantry’ on this occasion. Once more withdrawn, this time to Lemnos, the 1/5th returned to the Peninsula on 11 July, thereafter seeing almost continuous service in the trenches until late December. During this latter period, August proved to be the most eventful month, the Battalion participating in the attack on ‘The Vineyard’, where all of its officers became casualties:

‘This line recorded as being shallow, its hard ground making further digging a slow and difficult operation. Heavy casualties from shelling and enfilade fire. Enemy counter-attack at 2 p.m. [7 August] driven off. Turks came forward again at 4 p.m. forcing Battalion to withdraw. Some ground retaken later. Heavy fighting recorded for subsequent two days, but gains held’ (Ref British Regiments at Gallipoli).

Robinson was awarded the French Medaille Militaire in early 1916, and afterwards commissioned as Lieutenant and Quartermaster in the 1/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Subsequently posted to Egypt, France and Belgium, he went on to earn a mention in despatches for his services in the former theatre. According to The Gallipoli Gazette, ‘he was away from duty for only fourteen days on account of wounds in Gallipoli’ throughout the entire war. On the formation of the Territorial Army in 1920, Robinson was appointed Captain and Quartermaster of the 8th Battalion, with whom he served until his advancement to Major in 1931, shortly before his retirement. His attempts to rejoin the Colours on the renewal of hostilities in 1939 were unsuccessful on grounds of age, and he died on Empire Day 1952, having collapsed after winning a bowling competition at Bramhall.