Lieutenant Henry Robinson ELSDALE (known as Robinson)
Royal Engineers
Robinson Elsdale was born in Exeter on 29 May 1892, the son of Henry and Kate Elsdale (née Moorhouse). His mother, Kate, was born in New Zealand and was the cousin of Lieutenant Rhodes-Moorhouse VC RFC (born September 1887).* Henry and Kate were married in February 1887 in Lamport Church and the wedding was attended by Mr and Mrs Edward Moorhouse who were living at Lamport Hall at the time, but who later moved to Spratton Grange. However, Henry Elsdale died young and by the time Robinson was nine years old, his mother was a widow and living "on her own means" renting Holly House in Church Road, Spratton.
Robinson made the army his career and when he was 19 he was an "Army Student" and part of the Regular Army. He became a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force in November 1914 where he was wounded. He also served on the staff of the British Forces in Italy. He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Having been promoted to Captain, he retired from the Royal Engineers on 17 February 1925. It seems that he then joined the Royal Corps of Signals and worked in the USA with the rank of Colonel from 1942 to 1947. In 1947 he received an American award, the Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer, for his work in the USA. This award was gazetted in January 1947 as "distinguished services in the cause of the Allies".
Robinson died in 1975, aged 83, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
See also Lieutenant William Barnard Rhodes-Moorhouse VC RFC - A Northamptonshire Hero by Enid Jarvis published by Spratton Local History Society.
Royal Engineers badge
Royal Engineers badge
Legion of Merit USA
Legion of Merit USA
EXPLORE SECTIONS
MEN WHO SERVED
- Private Charles Herbert AUSTIN (known as Herbert)
- Corporal Frank AUSTIN
- Lance Corporal James William AUSTIN
- Private John Samuel AUSTIN
- Sergeant William Henry AUSTIN
- Sergeant Bertie Henry BALDERSON
- Corporal Frederick Charles BALDERSON MM
- Lance Corporal Robert Samuel BALDERSON
- Private George William BUCKBY (known as William)
- Private Henry Andrew BUCKBY
- Richard Henry Horne BUCKBY
- Transport Sergeant Thomas BUCKBY MM
- Company Quartermaster Sergeant William Gander BUCKBY
- William Archibald COPSON (known as Archibald)
- Sapper Ebenezer COPSON
- Private Ernest Edward COPSON
- Pioneer Henry Owman COPSON (known as Harry)
- Private James COPSON
- Private John William COPSON
- Private Joseph COPSON
- Private Arthur Sidney GOODEN (known as Sidney)
- Private Hugh Henry GOODEN
- Sergeant Joseph Eric GOODEN (known as Eric)
- Private Arthur Thomas HAYTER
- Driver Frank Leonard HAYTER
- Private Harold Herbert HAYTER
- Lance Corporal John Charles HAYTER DCM (known as Jack)
- Private Walter Ernest HAYTER
- Ordinary Seaman Arthur Charles HORNE
- Private John William HORNE (known as William)
- Lance Corporal Lewis HORNE
- Private Thomas HORNE
- Driver John Henry LEESON
- Corporal Joseph Henry LEESON (known as Harry)
- Thomas Baden Powell LEESON (known as ‘Bard’)
- Private Albert MANNING
- Corporal Amos MANNING
- Private Arthur Cecil MANNING
- Private George MANNING
- Sergeant George William MANNING
- Sapper Henry Stanley MANNING (known as Stanley)
- Private John Thomas MANNING
- Private John William MANNING
- Air Mechanic Nathaniel MANNING
- Driver/Saddler Samuel MANNING
- Gunner George Albert MARTIN
- Private Joseph MARTIN
- Private Thomas Henry MARTIN (known as Harry)
- Private Thomas Walter MARTIN (known as Walter)
- Pioneer Walter Ernest MARTIN
- Sergeant William Higgs MARTIN, DCM
- Private Arthur Walter PAGE
- Private Francis Samuel PAGE (known as Sam)
- Private Frank PAGE
- Private Stephen PAGE
- Lieutenant George REEVE MC MM
- Private Richard Henry REEVE (known as Harry)
- Private Samuel REEVE
- Private Sidney Philip REEVE
- Private Frederick Thomas RICHARDSON
- Private John William RICHARDSON
- Private Percy John Partridge RICHARDSON
- Private Abraham Bert SMITH
- Private Alfred SMITH
- Private Frank SMITH 46648
- Private John Samuel SMITH
- Private John William SMITH (6942)
- Private John William (William John) SMITH (8964)
- Private Charles Walter WADHAMS
- Private John Edward WADHAMS
- Private Thomas Edwin WADHAMS
- Private William WADHAMS