James St. Clair Wallace Robinson (1922 - 2011)

Born 17 Dec 1922 in Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Helen Priscilla (Hale) Robinson — married 3 Feb 1962 in Chelsea Register Office, London, England

Died 29 Sep 2011 at age 88 in Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset, England

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Biography

James was born on 17 Dec 1922 at 46 Mayfield Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, the son of Sidney Herbert Robinson, a solicitor, and his wife Isabel Edith St. Clair Collins.[1]

James was educated at Wrekin College, Shropshire, which he left just before Christmas 1940, soon after his 18th birthday. In 1939 he was in the Officer training Corps.[2] He joined the Royal Signals at the beginning of 1941. He was commissioned in April 1942.

He was posted to the Middle East and arrived, after a very lengthy sea voyage at Suez. Soon afterwards he was on his way - bumping over potholes forever it seemed - to join 50th (Northumbrian) Division Signals at Benghazi, passing through El Alamein, where the famous victory had been won a few weeks before. The division continued on from Benghazi, encountering pot holes, craters, brewed up wrecks of all sorts with the constant threat of aerial attack by Stukas.

By March 1943 they were well and truly joined in battle with Rommel's forces at Mareth, during the advance to Tunis. They were then ordered back to Suez, where James's unit was trained for the next phase of the war - the invasion of Sicily.

In the early hours of 9 July 1943 James' unit landed in Sicily at Avala. 50 Division explored, with various interruptions, the East side of that beautiful island. They captured Syracuse, Catania and moved on to Taomina. In his own words: "On our way we saw lovely orchards, corn on the cob still growing, luscious vineyards, fascinating mule carts. There were friendly peasants, high stone walls, narrow cart tracks, but there was also terrible carnage" The front line moved on to the mainland of Italy but 50 Division were held back in Sicily - they would be needed back in the UK for a much bigger operation. But at least James was able to have some time to relax in the luxurious San Dominica Hotel in Taomina, as you would expect of course, where in his own words "there was still time for an occasional celebration and some good beach swimming. Nat Gonella with his famous trumpet came to give us a concert. I still get a thrill when I hear his gravel voice rendering of 'Georgia'". This period was a God given break between the previous campaign and what was yet to come.

50 Division arrived in Liverpool, without fanfare, on a wet November day, and proceeded to Suffolk where within a few weeks there began a period of intensive training for a mysterious operation called Overlord and it seemed that within no time at all there would be another beach landing ahead. On 6 June James was in a large landing ship with some very brave Hampshires, hardly any of whom were alive one hour after landing let alone after one day. The signal team moved to a smaller vessel one mile out and landed three hours later to seeming chaos - cries for stretcher bearers, curses through loud speakers from beach masters, and all over strange beach obstacles, huge barbed wire emplacements, tin hats, a shattered limb. The noise of destruction was frightening.

James was lucky to find a safe way off the beach with all his signallers. By the evening of the first day they were once again in business.

A frustrating period of close combat developed, but it later became clear that the Normandy landing had been successful and the advance started again. James continued with his unit through France and on to Brussels and Nijmegen. Then he learned that the fighting days of 50 Division were over - it had done its bit and was now to return to England. James volunteered for the Far East. By that time he had been with 50 Division for 2 years which covered fully his 21st and 22 years.

James was sent to Bombay and began working up for a third beach landing when by great good fortune the war in the East ended. He returned home and stayed in the Regular Army having been granted a regular commission in 1945. He became a substantive Captain in 1949 and substantive Major in 1956. He attended the Staff College Camberley in 1952, subsequently serving in the Canal Zone and in Cyprus. Back in England in 1958, he completed a period at the School of Signals and later joined the Staff of the War Office, in the policy branch of the Royal Signals.

Enjoying London life so much he decided to find a civilian career at the age of 39, so he retired from the Army in 1961. At about that time he met Priscilla and they were married soon afterwards, in Feb 1962.[3]

As a start, James joined the large advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson Company as a wine consultant, followed by a spell with the Rank Organisation before settling down in 1964 to a city career with J.A.Brewin, Stockbrokers. He was a partner from 1967 to 1985 but then reverted to being an Associate, by which time the firm had become Brewin Doplphin.

From 1962 to 1967 he and his wife Priscilla lived at 14 Herbert Crescent, Belgravia, London. Early in their married life they purchased a rural property in Ibiza, where they were able to spend many happy holidays. Meanwhile they were able to enjoy a very active social life in Chiswick Staithe, London. Their membership of the Hurlingham Club proved to be a significant part of their social life as they were able to enjoy many happy evenings there with their friends. Particular highlights were James's 50th Birthday Party on 17 Dec 1972 and a few years later the Silver Jubilee Ball in 1977.

James always maintained a strong interest in all sports, playing for the Army at squash while achieving a good club standard in rugby, cricket and tennis. In later years, he took up watercolour painting with a deal of success, showing and selling at many exhibitions over the years.

In 1995, James and Priscilla, by then both in their seventies, decided to sell their much loved farmhouse, Cana Pujoleta, in Ibiza and also their house in Chiswick, London, in order to move to Barton Farm, a retirement homes estate, in Cerne Abbas, Dorset. The Coach House proved to be a wonderful place to live, close to a well appointed village with many interesting activities to satisfy their enthusiasms. They were very fortunate that they were both able to see their days out in Dorset.

He died on 29 Sep 2011 at Dorchester, Dorset.[4]

Sources

1. Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth (General Register Office)

2. 1939 England and Wales Register.

3. His wife Priscilla

4. Certified Copy of an Entry under the Deaths Registration Act 1953

Acknowledgement

I am indebted to Stuart Collins (cousin) and Carolyn Morgan-Jones (close friend) for all the biographical information which I have been able to extract from their respective tributes given at James's Service of Thanksgiving held at St. Mary's Church, Cerne Abbas on 12 Oct 2011. Also for all the additional information supplied to me by Richard Warren (close friend and executor).