Private Horace Robinson

Horace Robinson, son of John William and Alice Ann Robinson and husband of Irene Robinson, of Knottingley, enlisted into The South Staffordshire Regiment.

He volunteered for airborne forces in 1943 and attended parachute course 53 at RAF Ringway, which ran from 1 to 14 March 1943. The course instructors’ comments state: ‘Cheerful, average performer but works well.’

Private Robinson was posted to The 8th (Midland) Parachute Battalion (8th Para Bn).

On 13 June 1943, members of 8th Para Bn were on training exercise Bluebell, Pte Robinson jumped at 15:55 hours over the Firth of Tay in Scotland. The battalions war diary records that eight men form this jumped landed in the river. RSM Parsons was able to get ashore with help and reported to the police. Initially no trace of the others was found and they were presumed drowned.

When back at Bulford, the battalion received a message from Fife Sub District at 08:30 hours on 25 June 1943, stating that a Norwegian minesweeper had picked up the body of Pte Robinson one mile inside West Ferry Signal Station, Firth of Tay. His body was handed over to Dundee Police and the next of kin was informed the same day. Three more bodies were reported over the following days.

Pte Robinson was 31 years old. He is buried in Knottingley Cemetery, Yorkshire.