Thomas William Robinson

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Thomas died on 16th of August 1916 at the age of 37.

Thomas was born at Lowestoft on 22 November 1878, a son of James and Susan Robinson. In 1881 his family lived at 6 Alice Cottages, High Street, Lowestoft. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 2 October 1881. By 1901 his family were living at 1 Melbourne Road. In 1901 they lived at 43 The Hemplands, and Thomas worked as a furniture porter. By 1911 the family were living at 1 Melbourne Road, again, and Thomas was a fruiterer working on his own account.  

Thomas enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He served with the Suffolk Regiment, service number 26788. William went to France in 1916 to join the 2nd Battalion. 

On 16 August 1916 the 2nd Battalion were at Guillemont and involved in an attack a feature known as Cochrane Alley where a German block-house was known to be a significant stronghold. The battalion made efforts to take, and hold, part of Cochrane Alley: work significantly hampered by machine-gun fire and enemy snipers. 

The battalion’s casualties from 16 to 18 August were:

Officers: one killed, eight wounded, one missing
Other ranks: 39 killed, 151 wounded, 80 missing

Thomas was killed in action ‘on or since 16 August 1916’.