Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

A Second War 1944 ‘Pathfinder’s’ D.F.C., D.F.M. group of seven awarded to Flight Engineering Leader, Flight Lieutenant G. Robinson, Royal Air Force, who flew in at least 60 operational sorties in Stirlings and Lancasters, mainly over heavily defended German targets, including five times to Berlin
Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ´1944´; Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (628021 F/Sgt. G. Robinson. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Air Crew Europe Star, clasp, France and Germany; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Fire Brigade Long Service Medal, E.II.R. (Stn. Offr. Garner Robinson), generally very fine

Three: Farrier Sergeant J. R. Robinson, Royal Artillery
1914-15 Star (44766 Far: Sjt. J.R. Robinson. R.F.A.); British War and Victory Medals (44766 Sjt. J.R. Robinson. R.A.) generally very fine (10) £4600-5500

D.F.C. London Gazette 14 November 1944.
The Recommendation states: ‘Since being awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in March 1943, this Officer has completed further sorties with this Squadron. He now has a total of 60 operational flights to his credit. At all times he has proved himself to be cool and courageous in the face of the enemy’s defences and has set a sterling example as Flight Engineer Leader of the Squadron. On the night of 26th July, 1944, as Engineer to the Controller of an attack on Givors, the route over the enemy occupied territory to the target was covered by heavy thunderstorms and the aircraft suffered severe icing. These difficult flying conditions were also encountered over the target and prevented the normal marking procedure being brought into affect. Displaying great coolness and efficiency, Flight Lieutenant Robinson pin-pointed the position of the aircraft despite the difficult conditions and skilfully guided his captain to the aiming point. His undaunted determination and skill on this occasion of almost hopeless conditions of weather and in face of enemy opposition, enabled the marking to be completed accurately and the raid to be a success. Flight Lieutenant Robinson has always displayed outstanding morale and determination which have been an inspiration to all Flight Engineers in the Squadron and he is strongly recommended for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.’

D.F.M. London Gazette 14 March 1943.
The Recommendation states: ‘This Flight Engineer has now completed 30 operational sorties against well defended targets in Germany and other distant objectives. He has proved himself to be an excellent Flight Engineer, and he has always carried out his duties in a most efficient manner. His keenness for operational flying is outstanding and his encouragement to younger engineers is most praiseworthy.’

Covering Remarks of Officer Commanding, Path Finder Force: ‘This N.C.O. has at all times carried out his duties in a highly commendable manner and has always been conscientious in his work and unceasingly anxious to operate against the enemy.’

Garner Robinson was born in Rotherham, Yorkshire, in 1921, the son of John Richard Robinson, and joined the Royal Air Force in November 1938. He underwent initial training at Upwood, Henlow and St. Athen before qualifying as a flight mechanic, Aircraftman 1st Class, in November 1939. Throughout 1940 he was employed maintaining aircraft at R.A.F. West Freugh, Scotland and then to Silloth Coastal Command O.T.U.; anxious to be involved in operational sorties he volunteered for aircrew training in September 1941, and was posted for operational flying as Flight Engineer 7 (Path Finder Force) Squadron (Stirlings), R.A.F. Oakington, in May 1942. In his first operational tour, which started on 7 July 1942, he flew in 30 sorties with the squadron, including to Wilhelmshaven; Duisberg (4 times); Hamburg; Saarbrucken; Dusseldorf (twice); Osnabruck (3 times, including his first Path Finder Force sortie on 17 August 1942); Flensburg; Frankfurt; Kassel; Nuremburg; Krefeld; Cologne; Genoa; Turin (6 times); Mannheim and Munich. His tour over, he was posted for instructional duties, after which he briefly returned as Pilot Officer to 7 Squadron before being posted as Flight Lieutenant, Flight Engineering Leader, 83 (Path Finder Force) Squadron (Lancasters), based at R.A.F. Wyton. Between 31 January 1943 and 26 July 1944 he flew in a further 32 operational sorties, including to Hamburg (twice); Cologne (twice); Turin; Wilhelmshaven (3 times); Bremen; Nuremburg; Munich; Stuttgart (twice); Berlin (5 times); Kiel; Frankfurt (twice); Wuppertal; Brunswick; Magdeburg; Ausburg; Schweinfurt; Bordeaux; Toulouse; Paris; Odon; Villeneuve and Givors. He was discharged from the Royal Air Force in July 1946, and after the War joined the Fire Service in Boston, Lincolnshire, on 23 March 1949. He retired with the rank of Assistant Divisional Officer after 32 years and 90 days service, and in 2005 moved to Cyprus, dying there later that year. He is buried in the British Cemetery, Kolossi, Cyprus.

Sold together with Path Finder Force Badge Award Certificate, dated 14.6.1943, with Path Finder Force Badge, in gilt metal; Certificate of Recognition of Support of the Bomber Command Museum Appeal; three photographs of recipient in uniform; two wartime group crew photographs; and a number of newspaper cuttings.


John Richard Robinson, the father of Garner Robinson, was born at the Wheat Sheaf Public House, Gravesborough, South Yorkshire, in 1888, the son of the landlord John White Robinson, and served as a groom for the Hunts at Nostell Priory and Heath Common, Leicestershire before service during the Great War with the Royal Artillery. He died in 1930. Sold together with a photographic image of recipient.