Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Captain Gerald Duckworth Robinson, 3rd attached 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, who died of wounds, battle of the Somme, 26 September 1916

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., E. Surr. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); Memorial Plaque (Gerald Robinson) this last mounted in a circular wooden frame, medals nearly extremely fine (4) £500-600

M.I.D. London Gazette 4 January 1917 (Haig). ‘Robinson, Capt. G. D., [East Surrey Regiment] Spec. Res. (died of wounds).’

Gerald Duckworth Robinson was born at Linford, Clifton Road, Wallington, Surrey on 6 May 1897, the son of Frederick George and Amy Robinson. He was educated at St. Winifred’s, Kenley and Dover College; serving in the O.T.C. in the latter institution. Prior to joining the Army his home address was ‘The Old Parsonage, Otford, Kent’. Leaving Dover College and the O.T.C. on 6 August 1914, he applied for a commission in the 3rd Battalion East Surrey Regiment on 21 July 1914. As a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion East Surrey Regiment he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 22 April 1915 and served on attachment to the 1st Battalion. On 22 September 1916 the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment were in trenches at Oxford Copse; moving from there to Faviere Wood on the 24th. From there they moved to the assembly trenches and thence made an attack on Morval on 25 September. Attaining their objective the battalion then moved back to Oxford Copse on 26 September having suffered 12 officer and 191 other rank casualties in the attack. Amongst the casualties was Gerald Robinson, who, as a Captain in the 3rd attached to the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, died of his wounds on 26 September 1916, aged 19 years. He was buried in the Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery, Bray-sur-Somme. He later received recognition of his services, being mentioned in despatches. His parent’s address at the time of his death was ‘Whitehayes’, Otford, Kent.

With a quantity of copied research including some service papers, m.i.c., gazette and war diary extracts and copied photographs (2) featuring the officer and modern photographs (2) of his headstone.