Pte 52714 William Hebb Robinson

• Age: 23
• From: Gainsborough Lincs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• Died Friday 3rd May 1918
• Commemorated at: Grand Seraucourt Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: V.H.13

William Hebb Robinson was born in early 1895 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire the only child of George William Robinson and his wife Annie Maria (nee Carnaby) who married in Lincolnshire in 1893 when they were aged 21 and 23 respectively. His father was born in Lincolnshire whilst his mother was from Liverpool.

He was baptised on 02nd March 1895 at Holy Trinity Church, Gainsborough and was named after his paternal grandfather. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 47 West Gate, Grantham where his father is employed as a miller.

The Census of 1911 shows that the family are living in Pladham at 22 Kersley Street. William now aged 16 is employed as an apprentice coach wheelwright and builder. 

William enlisted in the Manchester Regiment as Private 4577 before transferring to The King's Liverpool Regiment. His medal index card refers to him serving in the 1st Battalion and then 11th Battalion. Indeed, when William married Annie Frain at Ebenezer Methodist Chapel on 29th September 1917 he cited his occupation as Private in 1st Battalion of KLR. Annie was shown as a Cotton Reeler.

William was married for only seven months when he was killed in action on 03rd May 1918, aged 23, whilst serving with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 52714, during the German Spring Offensive. 

He now rests at Grand Seraucourt British Cemetery.

The Cemetery was made in 1920-26 by the concentration of graves from the battlefields and from other burial grounds.

II Corps passed through this neighbourhood on the Retreat from Mons in August, 1914, and it was lost in the early days of the Fifth Army retreat in March, 1918.

There are now over 2,000, 1914-18 and a small number of 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, almost two-thirds from the 1914-18 War are unidentified and special memorials are erected to two soldiers from the United Kingdom, known or believed to be buried here. Other special memorials record the names of 32 United Kingdom soldiers, buried by the enemy, whose graves could not be found. In Plots III, IV and V are many graves, identified collectively but not individually, which are marked by headstones superscribed: "Buried near this spot".

The British Cemetery covers an area of 4,732 square metres and is enclosed by a stone rubble wall.

His widow Annie remarried in 1920 and had four children.

We currently have no further information on William Hebb Robinson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.