Bomb Disposal? - Sapper 2022477 Frank Robinson - Royal Engineers - 253 Field Coy.

Discussion in 'Royal Engineers' started by The Cooler King, Sep 7, 2015.

  1. The Cooler King

    The Cooler King Elite Member

  2. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    1911 Census:
    Name: Frank Robinson
    Age in 1911: 5
    Estimated birth year: abt 1906
    Relation to Head: Son
    Gender: Male
    Birth Place: Leeds, Yorkshire, England
    Civil Parish: St Helens
    Search Photos: Search for 'St Helens' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection
    County/Island: Lancashire
    Country: England
    Street address: 128 Holly Bank St St Helens
    Registration district: Prescot
    Registration District Number: 456
    Sub-registration district: St Helens
    ED, institution, or vessel: 21
    Piece: 22775
    Household Members:
    Name Age
    Hugh Robinson 32
    Edith Robinson 31
    Albert Robinson 9
    Frank Robinson 5
    Walter Robinson 1
    Edith Robinson 2


    Birth Registration Info:

    Name: Frank Robinson
    Registration Year: 1906
    Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar
    Registration district: Leeds
    Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
    Inferred County: Yorkshire West Riding
    Volume: 9b
    Page: 416

    Although it appears he was actually born on 29 Dec 1905.

    TD
     
  3. The Cooler King

    The Cooler King Elite Member

    Thanks Tricky Dicky :D

    Anyone have any pointers to St.Pauls and what the Bomb disposal or other bomb work on the building might have been?

    Anything in the Unit Diary?

    :)
     
  4. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    I don't have the unit diary, but searching around the nearest raid date wise was 29/30 Dec 1940 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul%27s_Survives. As he died 3 Jan 1941 it may have been disposing of a bomb during or from that that raid or from injuries sustained from a disposal after the raid itself.

    Not sure how one can put ones hand on a death cert, as they are not registered into the normal general public system, as that would tell you what he died from.

    By coincidence if it was that raid then it would have been on his birthday

    TD
     
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  5. RCG

    RCG Senior Member, Deceased

  6. The Cooler King

    The Cooler King Elite Member

  7. Streakyb

    Streakyb Member

    Hi I've just found this post ,frank Robinson is my great great grandfather, I was at his grave last Saturday which is one of the reasons I had a look for him on google .
     
  8. Streakyb

    Streakyb Member

    Here is frank sapper Robinson
     

    Attached Files:

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  9. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    You really need to get your Great Great Grandfather's service papers to show what unit he was in, and when.
    See
    Get a copy of military service records
    I'd be happy to look up the war diaries for his units for you. (I think I have the entry for the St Paul's Bomb somewhere, but I don't think all those involved were named in the quite short diary entry).
    Here are a couple of photos published at the time. I might have a couple more. Will take a look.-
    [​IMG]
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  10. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    The best accounts of the St Paul's bomb are in 'Danger UXB' by James Owen, and 'My London Bomb Squad' -
    [​IMG]
    I'm not sure but think these may be some of the same unit?-
    [​IMG]
     
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  11. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

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  12. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    Lower ranks not generally named in the war diaries. -
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Unfortunately I couldn't find a war diary for 253 Field Coy for the period when your Great Great Grandfather lost his life, unless anyone-else can point me in the direction of one?
     
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  13. Streakyb

    Streakyb Member

    Wow frank Robinson is actually on the first picture the one in the middle holding the bomb ,my grandmother showed me this picture along time ago ,thanks for all the information I'll have a good read up about him .
     
  14. Streakyb

    Streakyb Member

     

    Attached Files:

  15. Streakyb

    Streakyb Member

    My dad was telling me that they found his body 2 streets away from the explosion. Very sad .
     
  16. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    Do you know where your Great Great Grandfather was killed? (It would probably say on his death certificate).
    Reason I ask is that on his Commonwealth War Graves Commission record it says he was with a Field Company, but he was obviously attached to No16 or 17 Section of 5 Bomb Disposal Company when he worked on the St Paul's bomb.
    Below is the war diary for 5 BD Coy for the date he died.
    As you can see there was 1 NCO and 3 Sappers of 16 BD Sec killed that day in Dorchester Street, Shoreditch. It was thought a concrete breaker being used caused a clockwork time delay No17 fuze to restart.
    According to the CWGC there were 6 Royal Engineers who died on that that date.
    Results
    Webster was the NCO. )Only RE NCO killed that day)
    Sappers Ash and Fletcher are listed as being with 5 BD Coy.
    The others 3 men were your Great Great Grandfather, and Sappers Caisley and Falconer. None of which are noted as being with 5 BD Coy, but obviously one was, presumably your relative Frank Robinson? Death cert would probably prove it.
    If so, the Royal Engineers Association would no doubt happily update their Roll of Honour.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  17. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    As it happens I mentioned this incident in my book, 'Bomb Disposal in World War Two', and mentioned your Great Great Grandfather's name as a possible casualty. -
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    Last edited: Jan 31, 2020
  18. Streakyb

    Streakyb Member

    This is superb thank you very much for the information, I'll try and find out some more through family . :)
     
  19. ChrisR

    ChrisR Senior Member

    Britain at War magazine did an article on the St Paul's bomb that included another photo of some of those involved in their Nov 2010 issue. -
    [​IMG]
     
  20. travers1940

    travers1940 Well-Known Member

    Reginald John William CAISLEY 4290927 can be ruled out from the possibles for the unconfirmed Sapper who died in Dorchester Street on 3rd Jan 1941. He died at the General Hospital, Newark-upon-Trent, Notts.

    Casualty

    His CWGC entry agrees with a registration of death & a 1941 probate:

    Name: Reginald J W Caisley
    Death Age: 37
    Registration Date: Jan - Mar 1941
    Registration district: Newark
    Inferred County: Nottinghamshire
    Volume: 7b
    Page: 825
     

    Attached Files:

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