Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Robinson, a hosiery trade machine worker, born on the 29th May 1869 in Burbage, Leicestershire and his wife Emma Maria Robinson (nee Cheney, married on the 4th February 1891 in St. Helen’s Church, Sharnford, Leicestershire), born 31st January 1873 in Sharnford, Leicestershire. Ben (Benjamin) was born on the 19th November 1895 in Burbage and was baptised on the 12th January 1896 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, his siblings were, Jeremiah Edwin, born on the 30 March 1891 and baptised on the 10th May 1891 in St. Helen’s Church, Sharnford and May Kathleen, born on the 26th May 1892 and baptised on the 24th July 1892 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, the latter two siblings were both born in Sharnford, Edith Emma, born on the 22nd September 1894 and baptised on the 21st October 1894 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, Elizabeth, born on the 11th August 1897 and baptised on the 12th September 1897 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, Clara, born in the 3rd quarter of 1899 and baptised on the 8th October 1899 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage and Annie, born on the 4th February 1901 and baptised on the 21st April 1901 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, the latter four siblings were all born in Burbage, in March 1901 the family home was at 3, Hinckley Road, Burbage. In April 1911 Ben was employed as a hosiery trade machine worker and was residing in the family home at 39, Lutterworth Road, Burbage, together with his father, a hosiery trade machine worker, his mother and siblings Jeremiah, a hosiery trade warehouseman, May, a hosiery trade linker, Edith, a hosiery trade mender, Lizzie, a hosiery trade seamer, Clara, Annie, James, born in the 1st quarter of 1903 and baptised on the 29th March 1903 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, Thomas, born in the 3rd quarter of 1905 and baptised on the 20th August 1905 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, Catherine Margaret, born in the 3rd quarter of 1908 and baptised on the 18th October 1908 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage and William, born on the 12th January 1911 and baptised on the 12th March 1911 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, the latter four siblings were all born in Burbage. Ben also had the following younger siblings, Emily Marian, born on the 2nd January 1914 and baptised on the 8th February 1914 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, Dorothy Mary, born on the 7th June 1916 and baptised on the 16th July 1916 in St. Catherine’s Church, Burbage, both siblings were born in Burbage.
Ben’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 16067, and was posted as a Private to the Leicestershire Regiment and it was with this unit that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 29/7/1915. At some point he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and allotted the service number 142254, being posted to the 21st Battalion of that unit. He was awarded the 1915 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 25 Aug-18 – GRANDCOURT. 3.45am. “A” Company wired 110th Brigade ordered last night to push forward to line M.20 central – M.10 central - Guns of “A” Company followed.
8.30am. Battalion Headquarters and all Company Rear Headquarters moved to GRANDCOURT R.11.a.9.9 – Transport Sunken Road R.3.c.
9.00am. “C” Company Headquarters at R.9.a.9.2.
2.00pm. “B” Company wired – 16 Guns withdrew last night into Divisional Reserve into BOOM VALLEY.
4.00pm. Runner Post closed at R.7.b.1.9 opened at R.5.d.0.8.
9.15pm. “A” Company Wire – Company Headquarters at 110th Brigade Headquarters M.8.a.6.6. – Company got guns ready for action to beat off counter-attack but had no targets.
Casualties 1 Other Rank killed – 5 Other Ranks wounded – Joined from Base 12 Other ranks.
On Saturday 21st December 1918 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “COUNTY NEWS.” – BURBAGE. – A magnificent brass lectern has also been placed in the church by Mr. and Mrs. Robinson in memory of their son, the late Lieut. W. G. Robinson, who fell in action with the Leicester’s in France on October, 2nd 1917, at the age of 26 years. Another gift to the church is a Bible for the lectern, presented by Mr. and Mrs. James Robinson and family as a memorial to their son, Driver Ben Robinson, who died in France last August, aged 22 years. Both the lectern and the Bible bear the inscription; “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend.”