Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

BRAVE IN BLUE
Royal Humane Society of Australasia Silver Medal
Virtute Paratum – Bravery Rewarded

Mounted Constable Richard Henry Robinson 6500
Romanian Croix de Virtue Militara, First Class
Officer in Charge, Mortlake Police Station
Corryong, Victoria born wood machinist cum regular soldier, Richard Henry Robinson, aged 26 years and 3 months, enlisted, on 23 August 1914, in the AIF at Victoria Barracks, Brisbane, Queensland; embarking from Sydney on 18 October 1914 as a Sergeant with 1st Field Artillery Brigade.
On 26 May 1915 Sergeant Robinson transferred to the Gallipoli Peninsula; sustaining, on 16 July 1915, at the Dardanelles, shrapnel wounds to his back involving hospitalization before his returning to Gallipoli in November 1915.
On the Western Front, serving with First Field Artillery Brigade as No. 40 Battery, Sergeant Major Richard Henry Robinson earned for himself the Romanian Croix de Virtue Militara, First Class.
‘For gallantry and devotion to duty; This Warrant Officer enlisted in 1914 and has had continuous service in the line. On frequent occasions he has performed acts of bravery, especially on the night 2nd/3rd October 1918, when, near Joncourt, east of the Hindenburg Line, he showed great gallantry, excellent leadership and a keen sense of duty in the supply of ammunition to the guns under a very hostile area shoot.
On account of having to answer several SOS calls on the evening of 2 October, the supply of ammunition dumped at his Battery for the barrage on the 3rd idem became almost exhausted. This W.O. then made several trips during the night getting up ammunition to replenish the depleted stocks, and it was solely due to his energy and leadership that the necessary ammunition was delivered and his battery enabled to assist in the barrage at dawn on the morning of 3 October 1918 when the BEAUREVIOR LINE was captured. In the course of this work he had to pass through a heavy barrage of H.E. and Gas.
He has always proved himself a loyal and keen soldier.”
Instituted on 13 September 1916 in commemoration of the date Romania entered the First World War,Romanian Croix de Virtue Militara, First Class, is reserved exclusively for military valour; divided into two classes - First Class in gold to commissioned officers and Second Class in silver to non-commissioned men.
The Beaurevoir Line was the last of a series of German defensive lines known collectively by the Allies as the Hindenburg Line. Approximately eight kilometres to the rear of the main Hindenburg Line consisting of thick barbed wire entanglements and well-sited machine and anti-tank gun bunkers. The bulk of the trenches, however, were only partly dug. The original attack on the Hindenburg Line launched on 29 September had been intended to smash right through the Beaurevior Line as well, but had not succeeded in this objective. Along with the 46th British Division, the 2nd Australian Division was ordered to break-through the Beaurevoir Line on 3 October 1918. The Australians were to seize the village of Beaurevoir; the British Montbrehain.
The Australian attack was a success, but was stopped short of the village due to insecure flanks. The British captured Montbrehain, but were unable to retain it. After an ill-fated attempt to capture Beaurevoir on 4 October, the 6th Australian Brigade was launched against Montbrehain the next morning. The village was secure by the end of the day, but came at the expense 430 casualties - a cost regarded as excessively high for such a limited objective. The action at Montbrehain was the last battle fought by Australian infantry during the war.
A brother of WO Richard Charles Robinson, Lieutenant Thomas Carey Robinson, was killed in action, on 12 October 1917, at Ypres, Belgium, 1917.
Richard Charles ‘Dick’ Robinson returned, on 12 December 1918, to Australia, residing with his parents at ‘Farnham’, Main Street, Preston until discharged on 16 March 1919. Appointed to the Victoria Police Force, Dick Robinson, eventually, became Officer in Charge of Mortlake Police Station.
No doubt his police appointment enabled him to renew acquaintances with Kerang, Victoria born, horse breaker, Lindsay Melville. Twenty-nine years-of-age Lindsay enlisted, on 2 September 1914, as a driver in the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, nominating his father, James Edward Melville, of the Mortlake Post Office, as his next of kin. Bombardier Lindsay Melville returned to Australia, on 8 October 1918, to reside at Mortlake, Victoria.
From this distance in time little can be accurately established how Lindsay Melville ‘self-rehabilitated’ into civilian life. Perhaps a hazardous guess may suggest he returned to ‘farming life’, however successful cannot be established. Nine years following his return. In March 1927, Lindsay Melville, unsuccessfully sued his brother, James Michael Melville, of Mortlake, for £33, being wages; judgment being entered for defendant, with costs.
The turmoil, churning through the 42 years-of-age returned serviceman’s mind, may have become known to the local policeman, fellow returned Artillery serviceman, Mounted Constable Richard ‘Dick’ Robinson.
Shortly after 3 a.m., on the morning of 24 June 1927, Dick Robinson received a telephone message to the effect that Lindsay Melville was threatening his sister-in-law, Mrs. James Melville, on the common, about 3 miles from the town. On arrival the constable found that a.22 calibre rifle bullet had been fired through Mrs. Melville's bedroom window, lodging in a wall just above her head. As well as an attempt to set fire to the house by lighting some straw against the back door.
At daylight the two ex-servicemen, both mounted, came within 30 yards of one another near the Mortlake race-course; Lindsay Melville carelessly fired a shot in the direction of Dick Robinson.
Immediately, the mentally troubled, ‘shell-shocked’, Lindsay Melville lost himself in some bush. Discovering him some time later, Dick Robinson pursued the deranged Melville for several miles cross-country. Exhausting their respective mounts, the war veterans continued the pursuit on foot.
Tragically, Dick Robinson discovered Lindsay Melville amongst rocks with a self-inflicted bullet wound in his head, bringing the 8.30 a.m. until 4.30 p.m. pursuit to a conclusion that perhaps nobody, with the exception of the troubled Lindsay Melville, desired.
In public recognition of his act of bravery, in risking his own life in attempting to save Lindsay Melville, at Mortlake, on 24 June 1927, Mounted Constable Richard Charles Robinson 6500 was presented with the Royal Humane Society of Australasia Silver Medal.
Passing away, on 16 November 1951, Victoria Police Veteran, 63 years-of-age, Richard Henry Robinson of 30 Westbrook Street, East Kew, loved husband of Violet, loving father of Margaret, father-in-law of Bruce and grandfather of Bob, rests in eternal peace at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria, Plot Dodonaea, Garden N6, Bed 4 Rose 21 .