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Captain E M Robson was killed in action on 11 Apr 1918 as his 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, tried to prevent a German breakthrough at the Lys in Belgium. The 5th had been in action since 21 Mar 1918 when they had been rushed into the front line near Hancourt and had then spent ten days fighting on the retreat. On 11 Apr they were defending an exposed salient in the British line and were nearly cut off and surrounded by German attacks; Edward was killed at this time though the 5th managed to withdraw, incurring heavy casualties. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Hainaut, Belgium. He is also remembered on the Pocklington War Memorial and on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster.
Edward Moore Robson was born in Pocklington the 2 Oct 1889 and baptised at All Saints’ Church the 28 Oct 1889. Living at Pembroke Lodge, Chapmangate, Pocklington his father was local solicitor Thomas Robson. Thomas, like his wife, Eva was active in local affairs. Edward was one of five brothers and attended Pocklington School before training as a solicitor and becoming a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn, London in 1912. He matriculated in Law from London University. Edward was unmarried.
Edward was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 13 Sep 1914 and joined the 5th on 19 Jul 1915 at Pont de Nieppe, near Armentieres. He was involved in all their subsequent actions in Belgium and on the Somme in 1916, at Arras and Passchendaele in 1917. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in Aug 1917. Edward received a gunshot wound to the right thigh in the action at the Bluff in May 1916 and was wounded again on the Somme in Sep 1916. In Nov 1916 during an attack between High Wood and Martinpuich on the Somme he won the Military Cross for gallantry. His citation read that the medal had been awarded for having
“taken over the battalion front, establishing a connection with his Brigade on the right and carrying out work with great courage and initiative” whilst severely injured.
Edward’s brothers, Frederick and John also served in the 5th during the war. John was wounded at Arras on 27 Feb 1917; Frederick cerving in the Durham Light Infantry, was killed in action on 28 Mar 1918 on the Somme.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |