Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Charles Robinson a general labourer, born 1876 in Southill, Bedfordshire and his wife Lizzie Robinson (nee Smith), born 1877 in Shefford, Bedfordshire. Walter was employed as a butcher’s errand boy and was born in 1897 in Shefford, Bedfordshire, his siblings were, Ethel May, born 1896 and Fred, born 1900, the latter two siblings were both born in Shefford, Bedfordshire, Bertie, born 1902, Reggie, born 1904 and Doris Lilian, born 1906, the latter three siblings were all born in Kempston, Bedfordshire, in April 1911 the family home was at 10, Beatrice Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire. His younger brother Fred, G/67534, serving as a Lance Corporal with the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment was killed in action on the 10th August 1918. Both brothers are commemorated on the Kempston War Memorial in Bedfordshire. William Walter enlisted into the 1st/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment on the 21st October 1914, being allocated the service number 2971, he enlisted with a friend, Harry Thomas Shreeves, who was allocated the next service number 2972, Harry also gave his place of residence, like William as Shellbrook, Leicestershire, his parents residing in the same street as William’s, 34, Beatrice Street in Kempston, Bedfordshire. An article taken from the Leicester Mercury of the 3rd November 1915 recorded that William was wounded at the Battle of Loos whilst serving with the 1st/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regt. It therefore has to be assumed that upon his return to duty he was reallocated a new service number and posted to the 1st/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. William first entered the theatre of war on the 28th February 1915 in France, he was awarded the 1915 Star and the British and Victory Medals. An account taken from the book “Footprints of the 1st/4th Leicestershire Regiment” written Captain John Milne of that Regiment, records that, June 6th found the battalion in the line again in cellars in Lievin. Next day was spent making final preparations for the raid. At 5.00am on the 8th our artillery began to bombard and continued until Zero hour (8.30pm). At 5.00pm the companies began to assemble in the assembly trenches. The 5th Leicestershire’s and 4th Lincoln’s were to go over first and the 4th Leicester’s were to mop up. Everything was ready at 7.45pm. The assembly trenches were full. Then suddenly at 8.00pm the enemy began to bombard. They had evidently got wind of the raid, some said from one of their aeroplane. Fortunately, they rather overshot the mark, and little damage was done by their shells. The assault began at 8.30pm under cover of a heavy artillery and a shrapnel barrage put down by the field artillery. On the right good progress was made and the objectives in Almanac Trench were reached. “B” Company under Captain J. G. Abell and “C” Company under Lieutenant Hyslop began “mopping up.” They found a large number of the enemy in Fosse 3 where there were eleven buildings with many dug-outs. These were dealt with, with bombs and mobile charges. Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the enemy and two officers and twelve other ranks taken prisoner. “C” Company had a lot of trouble with uncut wire and a machine-gun. One machine-gun cunningly placed and stoutly manned can knock hell out of advancing infantry, and often did. On the left “D” Company met with serious opposition in Ahead Trench. They were mopping up for the 4th Lincolnshire Regiment and they suffered many casualties including their commander, Captain Wakerley, who was killed. Here again enemy trenches were entered, dug-outs bombed, and heavy casualties inflicted. The Hun had a very disturbed night. The withdrawal began at 1.00am and the companies were back in their cellars at Lievin at 3.00am licking their wounds and lapping up their rum. Second Lieutenants R. F. Wagstaff, E. C. Doudney, J. Douglas, D. T. Sloper and H. J. A. Parkinson were wounded. There were seventy other ranks killed and wounded. The whole operation was considered a great success as many Huns had been killed and their dug-outs had been badly knocked about. The “moppers up” had done their work with ruthless efficiency and the whole operation was a shining example of how a large scale raid should be done. Next day was spent in support. The War Diary for today records. Heavy artillery bombardment of enemy positions commencing at 5.00am and continuing until Zero hour (8.30pm) + 3 minutes. Coys begin to assemble in trenches in the CITE DU RIAUMENT at 5.00pm under orders of Lt Col TRIMBLE 5th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT (2 Coys B and C) and Lt Col YOOL, 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT (D Coy). The assembly was complete at 7.45pm and at 8.00pm the enemy barraged the position of assembly though fortunately little harm resulted. At 8.30pm the assault commenced under cover of heavy artillery. At Zero + 3 the field artillery put down a shrapnel barrage which crept forward on to HILL 65. On the right progress was good, troops reaching their objectives in ALMANAC TRENCH and B and C Coys under Captain G. ABELL (B) and Lt HYSLOP (C) commenced “mopping up”. They found a large number of enemy in FOSSE 3 where there were in buildings with many dugouts. These were dealt with, with bombs and mobile charges. Heavy casualties were inflicted upon the enemy and 2 officers – 12 other ranks taken prisoner. C Coy were greatly impeded by uncut wire which prevented them silencing a machine gun which was troublesome. The whole operation was a great success in that destruction was caused to enemy dugouts and casualties inflicted. On the left D Coy under Captain A. J. WAKERLEY “mopping up” for the 4th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT met with more serious opposition in AHEAD TRENCH and suffered many casualties. Captain WAKERLEY being killed and 2nd Lt R. F. Wagstaff slightly wounded. The trenches were entered and many dugouts bombed and many casualties inflicted upon the enemy. The withdrawal commenced at 1.00am on the 9th June and all Coys were back in cellars by 3.00am. A Coy has specially training for wiring but was not called upon. 2nd Lt’s E. C. DOUDREY, J. DOUGLAS, D. T. SLOPER, J. A. PARKINSON were wounded and there were 70 other ranks killed or wounded.