Francis Victor Robinson was a son of Charles Sydney Robinson (1849-1913) and Marian Emma Robinson née Dent 1850-1901). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1883 in the Barnet registration district, Middlesex (now Greater London), which means he was born in either late 1882 or early 1883.
In the 1891 census he was shown aged 8 years and living at Bay Lodge, Totteridge, Hertfordshire, with his parents, three siblings: Bertha Emma Robinson (1876-1953); Compton James Robinson (1878-1946) and Guy Robinson (b.1886), together with two housemaids. His father was described as an outfitter.
He was shown aged 17 years in the 1901 census residing in Bay Lodge, The Green, Totteridge, Hertfordshire, with his parents, five siblings: Edwin Charles Robinson (b.1875) - an electrician; Bertha Emma Robinson; Compton James Robinson - a tailor; Sybil Robinson (b.1883) and Guy Robinson. His father was described as a tailor.
He attended the University of London and whilst there joined the University's Officers' Training Corps.
On 29 June 1909 he married Bertha Louisa Hunter at St Saviour's Church, Eastbourne, Sussex, where in the marriage register he is shown as a bachelor and a solicitor, whilst his wife shown as a spinster. They were both residing in Eastbourne. Their son, John Basil Robinson, was born on 24 March 1910 and when he was baptised on 12 June 1910 at St Paul's Church, Finchley, Middlesex (now Greater London), the baptismal register showed the family living at 8 Park View Road, Finchley and confirming his father was a solicitor.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as a solicitor, living in a seven roomed property at 8 Park View Road, Finchley, with his wife and their son, John Basil Robinson, together with a nurse and a female domestic servant.
He had been in a partnership with Sydney James Ellis and Norman Edward Kelly, trading as Camp, Ellis and Company, carrying on business as solicitors in Watford, Luton, Bushey, Rickmansworth and London, but in the London Gazette dated 2 February 1912 it is shown that this partnership was dissolved by mutual consent as and from the 31 May 1911.
Their second son, Colin Hunter Robinson (1914-1941), was born on 12 April 1914 and when he was baptised on 24 May 1914 in St Paul's Church, Finchley the baptismal register confirms the family were still residing at 8 Park View Road, Finchley and that his father was a solicitor.
On 23 June 1914 he was initiated as a Freemason in the T Square Lodge No.3269 that met at Frascati Restaurant, Oxford Street, London. Masonic records held at the United Grand Lodge of England show that he was a solicitor residing at 14 Bedford Row, London.
He initially entered France in July 1916 and returned to England the following month to recover from injuries. He was posted to Egypt and Palestine in July 1917 and was serving as a Lieutenant in the 383rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, when he died, aged 35 years, on 29 July 1918 from blood poisoning in Naserieh Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. His body was buried in Row O, Grave 221, in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Old Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
Probate records confirm that his address had been 20 Gorringe Road, Eastbourne and that when probate was granted to his widow on 20 August 1918 his effects totalled £10-0s-0d. His army effects totalling £137-15s-3d were sent to his widow on 24 March 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal. These were sent to his widow on 23 February 1922 at 20 Gorringe Road, Eastbourne.
He is shown as ROBINSON. F.V. LIEUT. R.G.A. on the Quebec Chapel war memorial at the Church of The Annunciation, Bryanston Street, London, W1H 7AH. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website and on the Masonic Great War Project website.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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