The Collection of Medals to the Medical Services formed by Colonel D.G.B. Riddick

The Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. and Bar group of four awarded to Major H. H. Robinson, Royal Air Force, late Royal Army Medical Corps, attached 21st London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles)

Military Cross, G.V.R., with Second Award Bar, rev. engraved, ‘Capt. H. H. Robinson, R.A.M.C., M.O. att. First Surrey Rifles’; 1914-15 Star (Lieut., R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Major, R.A.F.), mounted court style for wear, good very fine and better (4) £1600-1800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Medical Services formed by Colonel D.G.B. Riddick.

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M.C. London Gazette 14 November 1916. ‘Captain, R.A.M.C. (T.F.)’ ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He tended the wounded with great courage and skill, quite regardless of personal danger. He has, on many previous occasions, displayed the greatest bravery’.

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 3 June 1918. ‘Captain, R.A.M.C. (T.F.)’.

Hugh Huntley Robinson was the second son of Dr H. Shapter Robinson of Epsom and was educated at The London Hospital and took diplomas of M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. London in 1912. With the outbreak of war he was commissioned into the R.A.M.C. Both the M.C. and Bar were awarded to Robinson as Medical Officer to the 21st London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles). Robinson joined the battalion a month after it arrived in France. With the battalion he served at Aubers Ridge, Festubert, Loos, and the Somme.

He was awarded his M.C. for his bravery on 15/16 September 1916 at the capture of High Wood, where the battalion went into action with 19 officers and 550 men and emerged with 2 officers and 60 men. He later served at Flers-Courcelette, Le Transloy, Ypres salient and at Messines. After the latter he received promotion to one of the Divisional Field Ambulances. He was later transferred to the Royal Air Force with the rank of Major.

He was killed in an aeroplane accident on 3 May 1919 aged 29 years. He was flying in a DH4A piloted by 2nd Lieutenant A. H. B. Stace (also killed) of No.25 Squadron. The cause of the accident was given as ‘Engine cut out at 250 feet up, the engine cut out and the pilot in trying to turn back to the aerodrome, stalled and nosed dived to earth’. In May 1919 the squadron was being moved from Mauberge in France to Bickendorf in Germany - it may be that the accident was in connection with this move. Sold with copied research and a copied group photograph.