VICE-COMMANDANT JOSEPH ROBINSON – AIRDRIE BURGH POLICE

VICE-COMMANDANT JOSEPH ROBINSON

AIRDRIE BURGH POLICE – SPECIAL CONSTABULARY

Joseph Robinson was born on the 16th of September 1880 at St.Mary, Kirkdale, Lanacashire. His father, William Robinson, was a brick layer who travelled the north of England seeking work. The family eventually settled in Barrow-in-Furness and Hartlepool, where Joseph was educated. He left school at an early age, working as a Dock labourer in Hartlepool.

On the 30th of June 1898, at the age of 18 years, Joseph joined the Royal Engineers and was allocated Service No. 1973. He served at Chatham until the 9th of June 1899, when he and his regiment embarked for South Africa.

He remained in the country for the duration of the campaign and saw action during at the Defence of Ladysmith, in the Orange Free State, Laings Nek and Belfast. He was awarded both Boer War medals with clasps for these campaigns.

On the 1st of February 1902, he was appointed Lance Corporal.

At the end of the campaign, he returned to the United Kingdom, arriving back on the 29th of October 1902.

During this period of home service, Joseph passed his further education certificates, qualified in musketry and qualified in leading a company in field works, becoming a field instructor. On the 1st of February 1905, he was promoted 2nd Corporal (Second corporals wore one rank chevron like lance-corporals, but unlike the latter, which was an appointment, they held full non-commissioned officer rank).

At the end of December 1905, Joseph extended his service, signing up to complete a further 12 years with the colours. On the 15th of June 1908, he was promoted to full Corporal.

On the 9th of July 1908, Joseph married Daisy Sophia Carpenter at Chatham in Kent, living in military married quarters.

On the 17th of November 1909, Joseph signed up to complete 21 years with the colours. Unfortunately, his wife died only two months later on the 23rd of January 1910.

One year later, on the 17th of January 1911, Joseph was transferred, on promotion to Sergeant, to the Lowland Division, based at Coatbridge, where he was responsible for all training programmes relating to reserve and territorial soldiers. He lodged with a family at 148 Graham Street, Airdrie.

Love blossomed and he married a widow who was also lodging at the same address, her name was Margaret Lockhart. Margaret had four children and Joseph took on the whole family, moving to 3c Royal Terrace, George Street in Airdrie.

Very soon, on the 10th of March 1912, the couple had a son, William, a welcome addition to the family. However, they had to find larger accommodation and moved to 98 Flowerhill Street in Airdrie.

Joseph remained in his position at Coatbridge until the outbreak of World War 1. He was then involved in the training of recruits to prepare them for deployment overseas.

He too was posted overseas to Egypt as part of the 52nd Lowland Division. Initially assigned to the defence of the Scottish coast, the division moved to Gallipoli, arriving there in early July 1915. While moving from Scotland the division suffered the loss of 210 officers and men killed, and another 224 injured in the Quintshill rail crash, near Gretna, that involved the 1/7th Royal Scots.

The division first saw action at Gallipoli, suffering heavy casualties. The division moved to Egypt as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, and concentrated at Abbassia near Cairo. It subsequently moved to El Kantara and on 2 March took over No 3 Section of the Suez Canal defences.

He fought at Dueidar on the 22nd of April 1916 and thereafter the 52nd (Lowland) Division developed a strong defensive position at Romani which had its left flank on the Mediterranean Sea, building a series of redoubts (temporary fortifications) were built running southwards from Mahamdiyah along the line of high sand hills about 7 miles to a dune known as Katib Gannit 100 feet high.

This line of sand hills, which were high enough to see Katia oasis, marked the eastern edge of an area of exceptionally soft and shifting sand beyond which were lower dunes and harder sand where movement by both infantry and mounted forces was considerably easier.

Between the shore at the western end of the Bardawil Lagoon and Katib Gannit the infantry constructed a line of 12 redoubts about 750 yards apart, with a second series of redoubts covering the Romani railway station and the right of the defensive position which curved like a hook westward, then northward.

A total of 18 redoubts were constructed, which when fully garrisoned held from 40 to 170 rifles each, with Lewis Guns and an average of two Vickers machine guns allotted to each position; they were well wired on the right side of each of the positions, although there was no wire between the redoubts. This defensive line was supported by artillery.

Joseph was one of the Non-Commissioned Officers (N.C.O.’s) with responsibility for ensuring that these defences were constructed and capable of supporting both infantry and artillery.

On the 1st of June 1916 Joseph was mentioned in despatches by General Sir Archibald Murray, Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (E.E.F.). He was also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) for his exceptional work. The citation read “For conspicuous and valuable services rendered in the performance of his duties. He applied his technical knowledge with marked ability.” His award was printed in the London Gazette on the 15th of September 1916.

This was all done ahead of the Battle of Romani, between the 4th and 5th of August, where it manned the east-facing defensive fortifications during the action. On the first, and most crucial day, of the battle the division was heavily engaged with the enemy’s right flank, while the Australian Light Horse, New Zealand Mounted Rifles, and 5th Mounted Brigades fought the centre and left flank.

The division fought in the First and Second battle of Gaza in March and April 1917, following which Joseph was promoted to Warrant Officer 1st Class.

As a division of XXI Corps, it played an important part in the final overthrow of the Ottomans at the Third Battle of Gaza and the subsequent advance. The division then participated in the Battle of Jerusalem.

Following this he received promotion to Sergeant Major and later Regimental Sergeant Major.

The Battle of Jaffa saw the passage of the Nahr El Auja, on the night of 20–21 December 1917, by the division’s three Brigades, which according to General Sir Edmund Allenby’s despatch “reflects great credit on the 52nd (Lowland) Division. It involved considerable preparation, the details of which were thought out with care and precision. The sodden state of the ground, and, on the night of the crossing, the swollen state of the river, added to the difficulties, yet by dawn the whole of the infantry had crossed. The fact that the enemy were taken by surprise, and, that all resistance was overcome with the bayonet without a shot being fired, bears testimony to the discipline of this division. The operation, by increasing the distance between the enemy and Jaffa from three to eight miles, “rendered Jaffa and its harbour secure, and gained elbow-room for the troops covering Ludd and Ramleh and the main Jaffa-Jerusalem road.”

Joseph and his men prepared the way for the advance of the British forces, working in dangerous and hazardous conditions.

In April 1918, the division moved to France where it fought in the Second Battle of the Somme, the Second Battle of Arras, and the Battle of the Hindenburg Line during the Hundred Days Offensive.

After the war, the division was disbanded along with the rest of the Territorial Force. However, it was re-established in 1920 as part of the Territorial Army. Joseph remained with the division as a reservist.

Following his discharge in 1919, he returned to Airdrie where he found work as a Court Officer at Airdrie Sheriff Court. He lived in rooms attached to the building, on Market Street. Joseph remained in this post for many years and through WW2.

He remained active in many groups and associations, including the ‘Old Comrades’ association, helping to organise the many reunions held at the Territorial Army Hall in Quarry Street, Coatbridge.

In 1935 he gave a talk on his experiences at ‘Ladysmith’ during the Boer War, explaining the sanitary conditions and hardships of the troops, who survived for a period on horse flesh, prior to being relieved. Joseph himself was seriously ill with scabies during that period.

Joseph did not rest on his military laurels and between the wars he became a Special Constable with Airdrie Burgh Police. At that time, the ‘Specials’ had a rank structure and Joseph rose to the rank of Vice-Commandant, basically second in charge of Burgh Special Constabulary.

He used his military experience to train his officers and prepare them for war duties throughout hostilities. In June 1941 he was awarded the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and later bars to the medal.

He finally retired from the ‘Specials’ and as Court Officer and Office Keeper of the Court, at the end of WW2, retiring to his new home at 60 Robertson Street, Airdrie with his wife, Margaret.

Margaret died in 1953 at the age of 75. Joseph survived her by a further 9 years, passing away at home at the age of 82 years.

He lived what can only be described as a colourful and eventful life in the service of his country.