Robert Norman Atkinson was the son of Maj J E Atkinson, and Elizabeth Atkinson, of Kemerton, Worcester. He had gained a Bachelors Degree before joining the Army.Lieutenant Atkinson served with 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion and took part in the Normandy campaign.

Lieutenant Atkinson died on 7 July 1944, aged 23 years old. He is now buried at Ranville War Cemetery, Normandy.

His older brother, John Surtees Atkinson, a Captain in the Indian Armoured Corps, and his younger brother Lt Leonard Atkinson MC of the South Wales Borderers, were also killed in action, in the Far East and Italy respectively.