7872462 Serjeant Charles ROBINSON, 81 Battery, 25 LAA Regiment, Royal Artillery: 15/06/1940

Remembering Today

Casualty Details
ROBINSON, CHARLES
Rank: Serjeant
Service No: 7872462
Date of Death: 15/06/1940
Age: 38
Regiment/Service: Royal Artillery, 81 Bty., 25 Lt. A.A. Regt.
Grave Reference: Screen Wall. Sec. 2. C of E Coll. grave 86A.
Cemetery: LIVERPOOL (ALLERTON) CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of John and Hannah Robinson, of Liverpool; husband of Margaret Robinson, of Liverpool.

 

The 25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment were Divisional Troops of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division from 25 April 1942, until the latter was returned home as a training cadre in mid-December 1944.

According to the very humorous and enjoyable Regimental history - The 25th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA. 1939-1946.

"The Regiment was formed in Liverpool on June 1st 1939, around 225th Battery of the 70th Heavy AA Regiment, RA and consisted of three batteries, 81st, 82nd and 225th. Rumour has it that it was recruited to full strength in a single day, with the help of the Cotton Market and a considerable number of cripples and paralytics! As it was designed for the defence of Merseyside, the honour (and all that!) for such an undertaking was justified, no doubt, particularly with the old homesteads close around the corner, and canteens, clubs and pubs near every gun site. But things didn't work out quite so well, for after a relatively short period in the area, on a assortment of VP's, when numerous friendly aircraft were engaged and sundry accidental rounds whistled across the docks, the Regiment was ordered to proceed overseas, probably to the relief of both the RAF and the dockers.

Amidst great secrecy, with public parades and route marches in tropical kit - midwinter of course - and with grandmothers, wives and sweethearts carrying kit-bags, rifles and pith helmets to the quayside, the Regiment embarked on December 16th 1940, on the Anselm, which was making its maiden voyage as a trooper. A few months later the story went around that it had been sunk in the Mediterranean - a shrewd piece of enemy propaganda, for most of the Regiment developed an intense admiration for U-boat crews..."

There is no mention of Serjent Charles Robinson's demise, nor that of two other soldiers who died whilst serving with the Regiment prior to its embarkation for Egypt.

Historical notes: Prior to joining 50 Div in the Western Desert, the 25th LAA Regiment, RA, acted there as an independent regiment; sometimes temporarily attached to other units. The 81st Bty was lost along with the 150th Infantry Brigade and 72nd Field Regiment, RA, of 50 Div, in June 1942, at the Battle of Gazala and was thereafter struck from the nominal role.

I do not know for certain how the 25th LAA Regiment, RA, ended up in 50 Div, as the 3 original Btys (81st, 82 and 225th) were from Liverpool. Following its loss, the 81st Bty was replaced by the 138th Bty, which had been formed at Margate. However, I do know that shortly after its arrival in Egypt the 225th Bty had been sent to help defend Malta and was later permanently replaced by 274th Bty in the 25th LAA Regiment, RA. This latter Battery had been formerly 'A' Bty, 102nd (Northumberland Hussars) LAA and Anti-Tank Regiment, RA; which had historic connections with 50 Div. Albeit 50 Div needed an LAA Regiment and this could have been any of a number available, it is likely the Northumberland Hussars connection that saw the 25th LAA Regiment, RA, being permanently attached.

RIP Sjt Charles Robinson.