Name
Percy Charles Robins
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
457905
Labour Corps
443rd Agricultural Labour Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Percy Robins was born on 3rd April 1897 at Abbots Langley. He was one of six children (four sons and two daughters) born to Frederick and Elizabeth Robins. In all three of the four sons served in the Great War. At the time of the 1901 and 1911 Census the family lived at 4 Garden Road, Abbots Langley, and Frederick (senior) was employed as a Stockman at Cecil Lodge. At that point Percy worked as an Errand Boy.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour first recorded Percy in October 1914, serving with the Hertfordshire Territorials. The National Roll of the Great War recorded that he had volunteered in September 1914, and was engaged on various duties with his battalion until drafted overseas in 1917. At some point he had transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Hertfordshire’s, and the National Roll continued to note that he saw much service on the Western Front and took part in heavy fighting in the Battle of Arras in April 1917. Although not recorded as wounded in the Parish Records the Robin’s family records noted that he had received a chest wound and was invalided out of the Army. Percy was withdrawn from the Front Line and moved to the Reserves and eventually to the Labour Corps.
From January 1918 the Parish Magazine noted that he was serving with the 4th Reserve Battalion, and in the Absent Voter Records in Autumn 1918, Spring and Autumn 1919, he was listed serving with the 443rd Agricultural Labour Company which was part of the Labour Corps. At the time his address was given at 4 Garden Road, Abbots Langley.
Percy Robins survived the War, as did his brothers Frederick and Lewis. However, his brother-in-law Albert Abbott was killed in action on the Somme on 1st July 1916, serving with the 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry.
Additional Information
Formerly Hertfordshire Territorials, 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment & 4th Reserve Battalion
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
