TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

MM GV (2628 Spl. F. W. Robbins. 1/Glouc: R.) surname partially officially corrected;
QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (5628 Pte. F. W. Robins [sic]. Glouc: Regt.);
1914 Star, with clasp (5628 Pte. F. W. Robbins. 1/Glouc: R.);
British War and Victory Medals (5628 Cpl. F. W. Robbins. Glouc. R.)

MM London Gazette 11 February 1919.

Frank William Robbins was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in 1881, one of seven brothers all of whom served in the Army, and attested there for the Gloucestershire Regiment on 15 August 1899. He served during the Boer War with the 2nd Battalion, initially guarding Prisoners of War on St. Helena from 11 May 1900 to 7 February 1902, and then in South Africa during the latter stages of the War from 8 February to 11 November 1902. He saw further service with the 1st Battalion in India from 12 November 1902 to 12 March 1907, and then with the British Expeditionary Force during the Great War on the Western Front from 11 November 1914.

Promoted Signalling Corporal on 3 December 1916, Robbins was awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry during the attack and capture of Fresnoy and Maronniers Wood on 24 September 1918 – the attack was a success and all objectives, including the German trenches beyond at Gricourt were taken together with just under 400 prisoners, 28 machine guns, 8 trench mortars, and one 77 Field Gun. He was discharged on 31 March 1920, after 20 years and 229 days’ service.