22435 PTE. C. ROBINSON. GREN.GDS.

 

Charles Robinson was born on 4 August 1895 in Penwortham and baptised on 6 October at Farington St Paul’s.  His parents were James Robinson (b. 1872 in Lostock Hall) who was possibly a navvy or general labourer who worked away from home, and Priscilla Burrows (b. 1874 in Lostock Hall).  James and Priscilla were married at Farington St Paul’s in 1892 and had four children, 3 of whom survived infancy: Samuel (b 1892), Charles, and Edith (b. 1900).  They lived at Tanners Row in Lostock Hall.  In 1911, Charles was working as a carter in the tannery.  While her husband was working away, Priscilla was working as a weaver in the mill.

 

Charles enlisted with 1Bn Grenadier Guards at the outbreak of War and the Battalion was posted to France in August 1914.  Once in France the Grenadier Guards were reorganised and 1Bn became 3rdGuards Brigade of the Guards Division.  They fought at the Battle of Loos in September 1915 and Charles was among the reinforcements who joined the Battalion in France on 27 October 1915.  The Guards Divisions then fought in the Battle of the Somme and in September 1916 they were fighting near Montauban, specifically at Bernafay Wood where Charles received the wounds from which he died.  He died at XIV Corps Main Dressing Station.  The picture  below shows the Somme landscape at Bernafay Wood in September 1916.

 

Charles was 21 years old when he died and 13 other officers and men of the 1st and 4th Bns Grenadier Guards were killed on the same day.  

 

His effects, £4 8s 4d, and a War Gratuity of £7 were paid to his father.

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Rank:  Private

Service No:  22435

Date of Death:  11/09/1916

Regiment/Service:  Grenadier Guards, 1st Bn.

Grave Reference:  E. 36.

Cemetery:  CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY

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