Name
William Ernest Robson
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/11/1926
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
106056
Hertfordshire Yeomanry
1st
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
NA
Pre War
He was born in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa in 1898 to British parents originally from Chollerton, near Hexham Northumberland. and more commonly known by his middle name Ernest.
There was the second Boer War between 1899 and 1902 and the Zulu Rebellion from 1906, so perhaps not the best time to be in South Africa but there was the gold rush and plenty of work to be had.
His father, Thomas, was in Johannesburg Mounted Rifles in Boer War, and was wounded, which contributed to his death in Geldenhuis gold mine fall accident in 1907 at the age 47.
After death of Thomas the family, mother and three sons, moved back to England and chose to settle in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire. Ernest was aged 8. He lived in Letchworth, went to school and worked there from 1907 to 1926. He worked as bookbinder at Dents, Temple Press.
They resided at 86 Ridge Road, Letchworth. This was the address shown in the 1911 census and later in the Absent Voter list of 1918. The latter confirms him as a private in the 1/1st Herts Yeomanry.
Wartime Service
He was Private 2898 and the 106056 in the 1st Yeomanry served in Mesopotamia, Iraq and Egypt, He was conscripted in 1916 so missed Gallipoli (1915).
After the war he returned to Letchworth and worked as a bookbinder at publisher Dents until 1926 when he emigrated to the USA via NY Ellis island.
He stayed on the farm of A H Balfour to learn dairy and poultry farming while clearing a farm for a friend.
He died on 6th November 1926 in Grants Pass, Oregon, USA and his was a particularly sad death as he committed suicide and is buried there in Granite Hill Cemetery.
There is a newspaper report on his death under the heading “Farmer Ends Life by Blast” – he set off two sticks of blasting powder.
Members of the family with which he was staying “noticed his queer actions on Saturday but thought nothing of it”. There was also a witness, Mrs Mabel Seiffert, who saw it from her house.
There were several unfinished letters to friends, in which Ernest referred to “Head troubles” and which the Coroner thought evidenced his despondency.
He survived the war, but his nephew believes that he committed suicide due to WW1 induced PTSD suicide in 1926 and was buried on exactly November 11 1926.
His sad death was just 5 weeks after leaving England and he was buried on November 11 1926.
Acknowledgments
Robert Robson (Nephew)
