Postcards and letter of Wilfred John Robinson, c.1919, 1979

Photograph - see original document 

POST CARD [*A5012*]

COMMUNICATION    ADDRESS ONLY 

Taken in the hospital

grounds with Pte
Gaffey, One of the
Aussies in Russia,

who was my other

cobber beside Jim. 

Photograph - see original document

POST x CARD

CORRESPONDENCE   ADDRESS ONLY

Pte Joe Purdue
[*AWM A5013*]

Photograph - see original document 

[*A5011*]

POST x CARD

CORRESPONDENCE   ADDRESS ONLY   Stamp T.L.C
Pt Joe Purdue, who served with

the 45^th R. Fusiliers on the River
front in North Russia, being
presented with the D.C.M which

he won while on service there.
Venue was Netley Hospital, England. 

Original on AWM file 749/1/21
W.J. Robinson,
Unit 27, Kilvinton K2,

Castle Hill road,
Castle Hill, NSW 2154
24/5/79
Mr P. M. Ryan,
Acting Director,
Australian War Memorial,
Dear Sir,

Re "The Australians in North Russia 1919"
I was very pleased to receive your letter of the 17th inst on
the above subject.
Firstly, I would like to correct the references on Pages 270

and 278 to Sgt. and Private Robinson. I am not the Sgt. Robinson
mentioned on Pages 270 and 278, but am the Private Robinson mentioned
on Page 278 as being wounded.

I arrived in England after the Armistice owing to having been
landed at Freetown, Sierra Leone with pneumonic influenza after leaving
Australia on the 31st August on the S.S. Barambah. I was a member of
the 11th G.S.R.fcts with the humble rank of L/Corporal.

While in No 1 Command Depot in Sutton Veney, Wiltshire, three of us,

myself, Private J. Peden and Private J. Redmond, all G.S.Rfcts who were

landed in Sierra Leone, volunteered to go to Russia.

We were discharged from the A.I.F. on the 28th May 1919 and

joined the 45th Royal Fusiliers, Russian Relief Force, on the same day,

in company with a number of other Australians. We were sent to Sandling

Camp near Hythe, in Kent, and embarked for N. Russia on the "Czar" from

Southampton on the 3rd July. After a couple of days in Archangel on

guard duties we were sent on active service on the Vologda Railway front

under the command of Major May, and were based at Obozerskaya and Bakaritza.

Our role in this area was mainly to patrol the slashings in the huge pine

forests and to attack the Bolsheviks wherever they attempted to establish

positions. One such position, a large machine gun post, was attacked by

us and a number of the enemy killed. The Bolsheviks did not bother to bury

their dead but left them to rot where they lay. There were no casualties

on our side.

Another duty we carried out was to man a "home made" armoured train.

Supplies for the front line of stores and ammunition were taken up by an

engine and trucks, and a truck with protected sides and firing slits was

coupled in front of the engine and manned by a couple of our Lewis Gun

crews. Bolo had an observation post behind his lines, and would open fire

with his artillery as soon as the supply train was sighted. Fortunately,

as far as I know he did not hit the train, though often a shell blew up

the line behind us when we were proceeding back to base. My two mates

mentioned above and myself, together with another Aussie formed a Lewis

Gun crew and took part in these duties.

Our final action in N. Russia was to attack an artillery post,

protected by trenches and barbed wire, on the outskirts of Empsta.

...2.

- 2 -

While no doubt the attack was planned to take place in the late

afternoon, it did not take place until the early morning of either the

29th or the 30th August, possibly owing to the guides having lost their

way. We had to sleep in a slashing and had to lie 2 to a ground sheet,

with our rifles between us, and a ground sheet over us.

The attack when it did take place was as described, except that

one of our number captured an enemy armoured train single handed and,

I understand, was awarded the D.C.M. for that exploit. I did not see

that episode as it took place after I was wounded, but I did see

Sgt Sam Pearse earn his posthumous V.C.

The Lewis Gun crew to which I belonged was enfilading trenches

inside the barbed wire with our Lewis Gun resting on the wire not far from

where Sam had cut through and attacked the blockhouse. Sam was a fine chap

and it was most unfortunate that he was killed. He certainly deserved

his decoration.

I was evacuated from N. Russia on the Naval Hospital Ship

"Garth Castle" and sent to Netley Military Hospital near Southampton where

I met up with Joe Purdue, who won the D.C.M. on the River front. Another

of my mates, Private Gaffey, who was in Netley with me, was also wounded

but is not mentioned in the list on Page 278. I have a photo of us

both taken in the Hospital grounds. I also have a photo, taken on the

main steps of the Hospital, of Joe Purdue being decorated with the D.C.M.,

and another of Joe proudly wearing his D.C.M.

I was discharged from Netley on the 16th March 1920, and Joe, who

remained there sent them out to me in Australia.

When I was wounded, I was shot through a New Testament, and a

Comforts Fund diary and wallet, which were in my left breast pocket

and which undoubtedly saved my life as Bolo was apparently using lead

bullets. The contents of my pocket, plus my Aussie hat were the only

things I came out of N. Russia with as I lost the whole of my kit.

On my discharge from Netley on the 16th March 1920, I reported

to Aust. HQ's in Horseferry Road, London, and on instructions from A.I.F.

Head Quarters in Australia, was re-enlisted in the 11th G.S.R.fcts, A.I.F.

on the same day, being possibly the last man to Join the 1st A.I.F.

On my way home to Australia on the Family Ship "Bahia Castillo",

my wound broke out again and I was finally discharged from Caulfield

Military Hospital, Melbourne on the 1st October, 1920.

I trust that this narrative has been of interest to you.

Sincerely yours,

W. J. Robinson.

P.S. I am afraid after 59 years that I have lost touch with the mates

mentioned.

Late 61464 - 11th - G.S.Rfcts

133038 - 45th R. Fusiliers, R.R. Force,

and 61464 - 11th G.S.Rfcts (2nd time round)

Original on AWM file 749/1/21

W. J. Robinson,

Unit 27, Kilvinton K2,

Castle Hill Road,

Castle Hill, NSW 2154

24/5/79

Mr P. M. Ryan,

Acting Director,

Australian War Memorial,

Dear Sir,

Re "The Australians in North Russia 1919"

I was very pleased to receive your letter of the 17th inst on

the above subject.

Firstly, I would Iike to correct the references on Pages 270

and 278 to Sgt. and Private Robinson. I am not the Sgt. Robinson

mentioned on Pages 270 and 278, but am the Private Robinson mentioned

on Page 278 as being wounded.

I arrived in England after the Armistice owing to having been

Ianded at Freetown, Sierra Leone with pneumonic influenza after leaving

Australia on the 31st August on the S.S. Barambah. I was a member of

the 11th G.S.R.fcts with the humble rank of L/Corporal.

While in No 1 Command Depot In Sutton Veney, Wiltshire, three of us,

myself, Private J. Peden and Private J. Redmond, al1 G.S.Rfcts who were

landed in Sierra Leone, volunteered to go to Russia.

We were discharged from the A.I.F. on the 28th May 1919 und

joined the 45th Royal Fusiliers, Russian Relief Force, on the same day,

in company with a number of other Australians. We were sent to Sandling

Camp near Hythe, In Kent, and embarked for N. Russia on the "Czar" from

Southampton on the 3rd July. After a couple of days in Archangel on

guard duties we were sent on active service on the Vologda Railway front

under the command of Major May, and were based at Obozerskaya and Bakaritza.

Our role in this area was mainly to patrol the slashings in the huge pine

forests and to attack the Bolshoviks wherever they attempted to establish

positions. One such position, a large machine gun post, was attacked by 

us and a number of the enemy killed. The Bolsheviks did not bother to bury

their dead but left them to rot where they lay. There were no casualties

on our side.

Another duty we carried out vas to man a "home made" armoured train.

Supplies for the front line of stores and ammunition were taken up by an

engine and trucks, and a truck with protected sides and firing slits was

coupled in front of the engine and manned by a couple of our Lewis Gun

crews. Bolo had an observation post behind his lines, and would open fire

with his artillery as soon as the supply train was sighted. Fortunately,

as far as I know he did not hit the train, though often a shell blew up

the line behind us when we were proceeding back to base. My two mates

mentioned above and myself, together with another Aussie formed a Lewis

Gun crew and took part in these duties.

Our final action in N. Russia was to attack an artillery post,

protected by trenches and barbed wire, on the outskirts of Empsta.
 ...2.

- 2 -

While no doubt the attack was planned to take place in the late

afternoon, it did not take place until the early morning of either the

29th or the 30th August, possibly owing to the guides having lost their

way. We had to sleep in a slashing and had to lie 2 to a ground sheet,

with our rifles between us, and a ground sheet over us.

The attack when it did take place was as described, except that

one of our number captured an enemy armoured train single handed and,

I understand, was awarded the D.C.M. for that exploit. I did not see

that episode as it took place after I was wounded, but I did see

Sgt Sam Pearse earn his posthumous V.C.

The Levis Gun crew to which I belonged was enfilading trenches

inside the barbed wire with our Lewis Gun resting on the wire not far from

where Sam had cut through and attacked the blockhouse. Sam was a fine chap

and it was most unfortunate that he was killed. He certainly deserved

his decoration.

I was evacuated from N. Russia on the Naval Hospital Ship

"Garth Castle" and sent to Netley Military Hospital near Southampton where

I met up with Joe Purdue, who won the D.C.M. on the River front. Another

of my mates, Private Gaffey, who was in Netley with me, was also wounded

but is not mentioned in the list on Page 278. I have a photo of us

both taken in the Hospital grounds. I also have a photo, taken on the

main steps of the Hospital, of Joe Purdue being decorated with the D.C.M.,

and another of Joe proudly wearing his D.C.M.

I was discharged from Netley on the 16th March 1920, and Joe, who

remained there sent them out to me in Australia.

When I was wounded, I was shot through a New Testament, and a

Comforts Fund diary and wallet, which were in my left breast pocket

and which undoubtedly saved my life as Bolo was apparently using lead

bullets. The contents of my pocket, plus my Aussie hat were the only

things I came out of N. Russia with as I lost the whole of my kit.

On my discharge from Netley on the 16th March 1920, I reported

to Aust. HQ's in Horseferry Road, London, and on instructions from A.I.F.

Head Quarters in Australia, was re-enlisted in the 11th G.S.R.fcts, A.I.F.

on the same day, being possibly the last man to join the 1st A.I.F.

On my way home to Australia on the Family Ship "Bahia Castillo",

my wound broke out again and I was finally discharged from Caulfield

Military Hospital, Melbourne on the 1st October, 1920.

I trust that this narrative has been of interest to you.

Sincerely yours,

W. J. Robinson.

P.S. I am afraid after 59 years that I have lost touch with the mates

mentioned.

Late 61464 - 11th - G.S.Rfcts

133038 - 45th R. Fusiliers, R.R. Force,

and 61464 - 11th G.S.Rfcts (2nd time round)