Private Angus Robinson aged 18

Private Angus Robinson aged 18.

Angus was born in Hull in 1899 to Angus and Sarah Ann. By 1911 they had moved to 22 Thorney Lane, Midgley. He was then at school and his father was a Wool Comber. His three older siblings were also in Worsted. He also worked for Murgatroyd’s before he was conscripted into the Duke of Wellington’s in August 1917. By April 1917 he had transferred to the 11th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. The battalion diaries report that on 12th April “Heavy fighting commenced about 10 am. The 93rd Brigade reported that they were heavily engaged, it was evident that an attack on a very large scale was developing and that the flanks were exposed. Orders were given to withdraw and later since touch with flank units could not be established to withdraw further. The enemy pressed closely and though not successful in disorganising the operation, succeeded in cutting off one or two parties to such an extent that their only escape was to a flank where they eventually attached themselves to other units.” The remnants withdrew to a line east of the village of Merris and the next day gained support from the 1st Australian division. Angus is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Comines-Warneton, Hainault, Belgium. This memorial commemorates more than 11,000 UK and South African forces who have no known grave. He is named on the Luddenden & Midgley war memorial and a relative has identified that a number of Angus’s family are in the photo taken at the unveiling of the memorial in April 1923. These include his father and mother and three siblings.

He is also commemorated on the Ebenezer Roll of Honour (Halifax Lane).