Searching for Robert Robinson, a decorated soldier from (Boer &World War I)

[unclerob]

I need help to locate the relatives of my father, Robert William Robinson or Robert Robinson, a decorated Soldier in the 1st or 2nd Manchester Regiment who survived both the Anglo Boer War (1899-1903) and the First World War (1914 -1918).  He was a disable veteran and walked with a cane.
In 1930�s he lived at 50 Herbing Street, Bury, Lancashire, and visited Ghana (Gold Coast).
In my search, I found these two individuals:
(1)  Robert Robinson, year of birth: 1879; attestation date: 2 June 1897; attestation corps: Manchester Regiment; attestation soldier number 5099; and
(2) Robert Robinson, year of birth: 1879; attestation date: 4 March 1896; attestation corps: 3rd Battalion Manchester Regiment; attestation soldier number 5335.  Could one these two individuals be my Father?
Note! 1879 may not be the actual year of birth for each person as I have found in my search.

[Robert Bonner]

It would be helpful if you will explain what you mean by a decorated soldier.
Do you believe that he was awarded a medal for gallantry?

[grimmy]

Hi unclerob and welcome,

Do you know when and where he died?

[Tony1/612742]

Umm.......Robert Robinson 5099 was at Elandslaagte, def of Ladysmith, Belfast, 1st battalion and as far as I can see was the only R Robinson in the regiment in the entire boar War; at a glimpse anyway. others will give you more.

[unclerob]

Robert, Grimmy and Tony1, thank you for responding to my search.  I have very little information to help me search for my Father.  Relevant documents such as pictures of him in his service uniform, letters, etc were lost through fire. In addition those who could help me find him had passed on before my fourth birthday.  All that I have to help me search for my Father are: He was a British Soldier in the Anglo Boer War (1899 -1903)  and  the First World War (1914 � 1918), he  was wounded, received several medals, which may include gallantry, and he walked with a cane.
Through Findmypast.com, Ancestry.com, and National Archives, I have been trying to put the puzzle together. In 1930�s, when he visited and worked briefly in Ghana (Gold Coast), he lived at 50 Herbing Street, Bury, Lancashire.  My Father went by these names Robert Robinson, Robert W. Robinson, or R.W. Robinson. I do not know when died.

Tony1, thank you for helping me to see that R. Robinson with Soldier number 5099 could not be my father.

Thank you again.

unclerob

[mack]

hiya rob
what was your mums name,and do you have the date of their marriage or your dads year of birth,these may help narrow it down.

mack

[tonyrod]

these are the only Robert Robinson i can find for ww1, how do you see r robinson 5099 is not your father, the indications are he could be,  

Tony1, thank you for helping me to see that R. Robinson with Soldier number 5099 could not be my father.



unclerob

medal card of     Robinson, John Robert
Corps:    Manchester Regiment
Regiment No:    41891
Rank:    Private
   1914-1920   WO 372/17   
See details
Medal card of     Robinson, Robert
Corps:    Manchester Regiment
Regiment No:    251682
Rank:    Private...
   1914-1920   WO 372/17   
See details
Medal card of     Robinson, Robert
Corps:    Manchester Regiment
Regiment No:    4322
Rank:    Private...
   1914-1920   WO 372/17   
See details
Medal card of     Robinson, Robert
Corps:    Manchester Regiment
Regiment No:    5746
Rank:    Private
   1914-1920   WO 372/17   
See details
Medal card of     Robinson, Robert H
Corps:    Manchester Regiment
Regiment No:    10263
Rank:    Serjeant
   1914-1920   WO 372/17   

[mack]

robert,william robinson,died 27th november 1936,lived at 75 bury st,radcliffe

mack

[Migky.]

robert,william robinson,died 27th november 1936,lived at 75 bury st,radcliffe

mack

Died age 56 birth year 1880ish Death registered in Heywood.
Left in a will �95-15s-10d to Harold Bentley a cotton spinner

[Tony1/612742]

Unclerob, Actually I think 5099 R Robinson is the man you are looking for going by what you know about him; having fought in the Boar war and on the surface anyway 5099 Robinson being the only R Robinson (very lucky that) that fought I think you can "Ink" this in.  He probably became injured in the Great War though as he has the expected clasps for a 1st Manchester that stayed for the duration and not invalided back early.

[unclerob]

Mack- thank you for your replies:
1.)   #5, my mum�s name was Mary Abena Nyamekye Acquah.  The marriage was customary and customary marriages in Ghana (Gold Coast) that time was not recorded. However, when my Father left Liverpool, England to Ghana, West Africa, on 24 September 1930, he gave 1879 as his year of birth.
2.)   #7 & #8, neither Robert Robinson who died in 1936 nor in 1880 could be my Father. I am searching deaths and burials in Lancashire between 1940 and 1970.

Tonyrod - thank you for your reply #6. I do not. I misinterpreted Tony1/6127�s reply #3.
Can you or someone help me with answers to the following questions?
1.)   Are attestation soldier number and regiment numbers the same? Does a soldier keep his first attestation soldier number when he reenlists?
2.)   Is Z7919 a regiment number?  The number Z7919 relates to R.W. Robinson, 2/1st E. Lancashire Regiment.  R.W. Robinson had a medical discharge in December 1919. He holds 1915 Star, General Service, and Victory Medals.  He lived at 45 Naylor St., Hulme, Manchester.
3.)    How do I run an age test on R.W. Robinson with 2/1st E. Lancashire Regiment and each of the three Robert Robinsons you listed in your reply #6?  My search in the First World War records is narrowed to Robert Robinsons in their thirties or with 1879 as a year of birth.
Tony1/6127 -thank you for your reply #9. I am sorry; I misinterpreted your reply #3.
Again, I am thankful to each of you.

[mack]

hiya rob.
during the time of WW1,a soldiers number changed if he transferred to another regiment,the Z7919 looks like a reference number from the national roll of the great war.

mack

[mack]

hiya rob
the r.w robinson at 45 naylor st,hulme,was pte 350537 rex,willoughby robinson,he died of consumption a few years after the war

mack

[unclerob]

Mack � Thank you for your replies #11 & #12. They are helpful to my search.
Now can you help me to understand the record of Robert W. Robinson?  How can I find out his attestation date, where he lived, and his year of birth?

    Name                             Corps.           Rank            Regiment No.
Robert W. Robinson           A. Cyclist          Pte.                3707
                                          RE                                    WR/268226
                                     R.O. Y. L. I.                            12314
                                     E. Lan. R.                               23888
                                      R. E.                                    251485
Medals                      Roll                           Page
Victory                   RE/102.  B32.                3033
British                         - do �
15 Star                    RE/21C                        888
Theatre of War first served (1)
Date of entry therein         25-8-15

Thank you.

unclerob

[themonsstar]

 Corps.           Rank            Regiment No.
Robert W. Robinson           A. Cyclist  Pte.   3707
                                     RE          WR/268226
                                     R.O. Y. L. I.   12314
                                     E. Lan. R.      23888
                                      R. E.            251485
Medals Roll            Page
Victory   RE/102/  B32/ 3033
British    - do �
15 Star RE/21C    888
Theatre of War first served (1)
Date of entry therein         25-8-15


His first unit in the British Army was the Army Cyclist Corps (ACC) Regimental number 3707, he is then for some reason it may have been sick or wounded or it could have even been his trade, is moved across to the Royal Engineers with the regimental number of  WR268226(WR= waterways and railways unit) after this it was on the move again to the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) with a new Regimental number 12314,again he's moved on to another infantry Regiment this time the East Lancashire Regiment (E. Lanc Regt) with a new number 23888, he is then posted to the Royal Engineers with the new number 251485

For all of these units to be recorded onto is medal index card (MIC), this would indicate that he went to France ( theatre of war first served (1)) with the Army Cyclist Corps  1st, this would have been indicated on the first medal he was issued which would've been the 1915 Star. (RE/21c page 888) because he had served in a theatre of war he would have then been issued the other two medals being the British War Medal & Victory Medal (BWM & VM RE/102/ B32/ page 3033)

The last unit he was serving with, would have been the unit which issued all of the medals,in this case it being the Royal Engineers.