Horace's Story.
EARLY LIFE
Horace Robinson was born in Rainow, near Macclesfield, in 1896, the son of Lavinia (nee Clark) and Thomas Robinson, a farmer and road man. In 1901, five-year-old Horace was living at Cliffe Farm, Rainow with his parents and brothers John Willie C (14), Arthur Thomas (12) and Charles Ernest (7). By 1911 the family had moved to Higher Hurdsfield and Horace was working as a tenter at a bleach works. Horace later worked as a store manager for Neckwear, Ltd., Macclesfield.
WW1 SERVICE
Horace attested on 29 August 1916, originally receiving service number 6548, and was called up for service on 23 October 1916. After training he was drafted to France on 17 February 1917. He was killed in action on 23 April 1917.
The death of Horace Robinson was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 11 May 1917:
DIED AT HIS POST - RAINOW YOUNG MAN'S SACRIFICE
Mr and Mrs Thomas Robinson, Rainow Road, Higher Hurdsfield, have been informed of the death in action of their son, Private Horace Robinson, of the South Lancs. Regt. The following letter has been received from Corporal E Guest: "I regret to inform you of the death of your son Horace early this morning. He was exceedingly popular with his companions and was thought mush of my his superiors. His death is a distinct loss to the company, and he died at his post doing his duty. Major Brewis wishes me to express his sympathy." Private J Jackson, a Hurdsfield man, wrote "I am very sorry indeed to have to write to you on behalf of myself and others expressing our deepest sympathy in your sad bereavement. Horace and I were the closest of friends and had been so from our childhood. We were called up on the same date, and succeeded in getting into the same regiment. This caused a brotherly affection to spring up between us. You have one consolation you will always be proud to remember, namely, that your son died out here sticking to his post while under shell fire. He is now laid to rest in peace in a churchyard with a cross bearing his name."
His death was also reported in the Macclesfield Advertiser on 18 May 1917:
PRIVATE H ROBINSON
... [Private J Jackson added:] "I miss him more as the days go by, and can hardly realise he is gone." Private Robinson was 21 years of age, and enlisted on October 23, 1916, being drafted out to the front in February. Prior to joining up he was employed by Neckwear, Ltd, Macclesfield, as a packer and sorter.
COMMEMORATION
Rifleman Horace Robinson is buried in grave ref. II. B. 32. of the Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension, France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Rifleman Horace Robinson, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Rifleman Horace Robinson is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St Michael’s Church, Hurdsfield Holy Trinity Church, Hurdsfield Sunday School, Hurdsfield Ebenezer Chapel, and Rainow war memorials, and on the Hurdsfield Sunday School Roll of Honour.
In Rainow he is also remembered on the family gravestone at Rainow Methodist Chapel, grave ref. D 104 (across the road from the chapel): ... ALSO HORACE THE BELOVED SON OF THOMAS AND LAVINIA ROBINSON KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE APRIL 23RD 1917 AGED 21 YEARS "NO MORE THE BUGLE CALLS" ...
NOTES
Brother of Arthur Thomas Robinson who served as 85057 Corporal in the RAMC.
SOURCES
UK WWI Army Service Records (Find My Past)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Family History Society of Cheshire: Rainow Monumental Inscriptions
Macclesfield Times: 11 May 1917, 23 September 1921 (photo supplement)
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton.