Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John was born on the 2nd September 1898 (but claimed 1900 when enlisting for WWII) in the Adelaide suburb of Parkside to Jeremiah Emlyn and Elizabeth Floyd Robinson. He had an older brother Gilbert Floyd and six sisters including Bessie Floyd, Nena Floyd and Emmie. John’s American-born father, Jerimiah was secretary of the Master Butchers' Association, was prominent in the local Parkside Methodist Church and on the Unley Council.
John attended Unley High School then furthered his studies having been awarded a scholarship to Roseworthy Agricultural College in April 1915. He was one of six candidates out of a group of twelve to receive the scholarship. The following year he was awarded a Silver Medal and two prizes, for Agricultural and Farm Diaries and Botany. John repeated this success in his second-year winning prizes for Agricultural Botany and Outside Work. Simultaneously, he was a regular participant as a Senior Cadet.
When World War I intervened, John’s parents contacted the Principal of Roseworthy gaining written permission for John to suspend his Agricultural studies and obtain leave to fight. Both parents also signed for John to be involved in the conflict. Consequently, as an 18-year-old he became a Gunner, number 39812 in the Field Artillery Brigade. He travelled to England and France. Interestingly he was granted paid leave for investigating stockbreeding in Cornwall in April ’19.
He then returned to Australia in January ‘20 to continue his studies at Roseworthy in ‘21 in a class of returned soldiers, taking a special course in advanced dairying, and gaining a Special Dairy Certificate in that subject.
Post war, on the 15th August ’25, John married Mavis Usher of Bull Creek at the local Methodist Church. The previous month 30 friends had gathered at the Methodist Manse for games and competitions to celebrate their engagement before a large basket of gifts of various kitchen utensils were presented and speeches in thanks were given by both Mavis and ‘Robby’. The young couple had five children Vesta, John (Jack), Ben and Jennifer plus William McDonald Robinson, whose life came to a tragic end in 1948.
In ’38 the Meadows RSL, of which John was a committee member, negotiated a lease to establish an electric-light cricket pitch which was exceptionally popular at the time.
With the outbreak of WWII, John, working as a Dairyman, again enlisted early on the 5th July 1940 and documented that he was 39, two years younger than his official age of 41. He was allocated the number SX8037 and was placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion where he was quickly promoted to Acting Corporal. He attended the Meadows Annual Returned Soldier’s League in August, acknowledging that he was “having his second attempt” and shared that “with the third lot of Australians (children of the present soldiers) they had little to fear for the result.”
Following pre-embarkation leave he was soon aboard the Stratheden on the 17th November, arriving in the Middle East in December with the new rank of Acting Sergeant, then Sergeant. A series of frustrating illnesses followed, including dysentery, diarrhoea, a skin condition on his nose and problems with his hand. Over these months he was also to become one of the highly regarded Rats of Tobruk. A combination of his health issues and contracting an ulcer, resulted in him receiving treatment in a British General Hospital. Almost inevitably he was classified as temporarily unfit for service and returned home via Freemantle and Melbourne. Back home further evidence was identified that his body was suffering with inflammation of his back muscles (Fibrositis of his lumbar region) which inevitably led to him being discharged as medically unfit on the 9th January, 43 aged 45.
To add to his WWI Medals of the 1914/18 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, John had also earned the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal.
In November ’47 John, as President of the Meadows sub-branch, assisted in the unveiling of an honor roll at Prospect Hill Methodist Church, before then reciting the Pledge of Remembrance.
The following year, Mavis and John received horrific news that their 14-year-old son, William MacDonald died at a Scout Camp Pan-Pacific Jamboree in Victoria on the 30th December ‘48. With a group of others from his Prospect Hill and the Meadows Troup, which included his brother, William was swimming in a riverbank pool, jumping from a raft into the water, but failing to surface. He was eventually recovered in 30 feet of water after two hours. Following an inquest, a heart attack was suggested as the probable cause of his death. It was an extremely challenging time for the family as suggestions swirled the William should not have been in the water. John sought to have the inquest re-opened.
Aged 79, John died on the 7th December ’77 in Rostrevor. Aged 83, Mavis died on November 4th 1985. She also was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery General Plot F, Path 15 Grave 595.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.