Name
Harold Augustus Robins
14/05/1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/05/1917
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
202643
North Staffordshire Regiment
2nd/5th Bn.
"B" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TINCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
Tincourt Brit. Cem. Mem. 3.
France
Headstone Inscription
GOD GIVETH & GOD TAKETH AWAY THE BEST HUSBAND A WIFE EVER HAD
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Chipperfield memorials., Littlehampton War Memorial
Pre War
Harold Augustus Robins was born on 14 May 1882 in Paddington, London/Middx, son of Charles Edwin Robins, a Letter Carrier for the G. P. O. and Mary (nee Briggs) Robins. He was one of nine children.
He was christened on 22 April 1885, at the Parish Church of St Jude, Kensal Green, Westminster, with his brother Clarence and sister Ethel.
1891 Census records Harold aged 8, at school, living with his parents, and seven siblings in, Bradiston Road, Paddington, London/Middx.
In October 1898, Harold started work at Paddington Station as a Porter, leaving in March 1901.
1901 Census records Harold aged 18, working as a Railway Porter, living with his parents, brother Clarence and sister Mary at, 9, Bradiston Road, Paddington.
1911 Census records Harold aged 28, single, working as a Postman, and living on his own at, 103, Kilburn Park Road, Paddington.
On the 3 July 1915, Harold married Maud Agnes Amelia Rose, the daughter of John William Rose, at St Michael and All Angels Church, Ladbrook Grove, Kensington and Chelsea. They had one son Sidney Harold Robins.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Holloway, London/Middx on 6 December 1915, he was posted to the Reserve the following day, 7 December 1915, he was mobilized on 15 September 1916, and posted to the North Staffordshire Regiment, initially with the service number 7094, and later 202643. On completion of his training he embarked at Folkstone on 25 February 1917, disembarking the same day at Boulogne, France.
While serving with “B” Company, 5th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, he received a Gun Shot Wound, while in action, on 27 May 1917, he was taken to No.36 Casualty Clearing Station and died there on 30 May 1917.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs. M. A. Robins, 16, East Street, Littlehampton, Sussex. ordered his headstone inscription: "GOD GIVETH & GOD TAKETH AWAY THE BEST HUSBAND A WIFE EVER HAD". His only known connection to Chipperfield was through his parents, who move to the Village when they retired. His wife Maud received a widows pension of 18/9 a week from 10 December 1917, and his effects of £2-18s-8d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £3. Maud’s, pension record card gives her address as 16, East Street, Littlehampton, Sussex.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
