Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Russell Dunsmore ROBSON was born on 9th October, 1897 in Leichhardt, Sydney, NSW

His parents were George William ROBSON & Catherine Grace DUNSMORE who married in Leichhardt on 2nd September, 1895 - he had 3 sisters, Marion, Dorothy & Gwenyth

He enlisted in Moore Park in Sydney on 25th January, 1916 & embarked from Sydney on 1st April, 1916 on the SS Makarini with the 1st Field Company Engineers, 16th reinforcements

Russell was Killed in Action in Strazeele,  France on 23rd April, 1918 & is buried in the Borre British Cemetery, Plot I, Row A, Grave 22

Inscription "BELOVED ONLY SON OF G.W. & C.G. ROBSON OF LINDFIELD, NSW - IN HIS 21ST YEAR

He was awarded the Military Medal on 12th October, 1917

"During the operations east of Ypres on 4th & 5th October, 1917, he was employed as Company Runner between Strong Point on Becelaere Ridge and Company Headquarters, he successfully passed 8 times through a heavy enemy barrage in the execution of his duty.

Whilst not employed as a runner he worked on the strong point and set a splendid example of gallantry and coolness to his comrades, materially helping in the task allotted his section"

Commonwealth Gazette no. 31 - 7.3.1918

Russell Dunsmore Robson was born on the 9th of October, 1987 (1) in the Suburb Linfield (1), 13 Kilometres North-West of the current Sydney CBD. His Father was George William Robson (1) and his mother was Catherine Grace Dunsmore (1) who got married on the 2nd of September, 1985. Together, they had 4 children - 3 girls, Marion, Dorothy and Gwenyth, and 1 boy, Russell. Russell Dunsmore Robson attended both Sydney Technical High School and Fortstreet. He graduated from Sydney Technical High School in 1913 (3) . He excelled in the subjects of English, History, Geography and came first in grade in Elementary Science and second in Geometric science (3). In 1913, Russell completed his final year of schooling at Sydney Technical High School where he achieved ranking 3rd overall in his class. This record reflected his deep intellect and interest in the Technical and Engineering fields that were later defined in his service. After School, Robson took on an apprenticeship as an Engineer at Curry Bros (1), located in Alexandria. His profession choice proved significant as it was directly transferred to the military role he soon after undertook.

On the 25 January 1916, Russell Dunsmore Robson was 18 and enlisted into the military (2). On the 1st of April, 1916, he was embarked as a sapper from Sydney on the H.M.A.T. SS Makarini (2). A sapper is an engineer in combat who deals with specialised engineering tasks in the support of combat or defense. 

One month later, on the 3rd of May, 1916, he joined his unit at Tel-el-Kebir in Egypt (2). 7 Days later he was admitted to hospital, suspected of an illness contracted during his service in Egypt. (2) 19 days later, he was dismissed from the hospital to board the H.S. “Briton” where he joined his unit from England on the 10th of August 1916 once fully recovered. On the 26th of August, 1916, he became a member of the 1st Field Company Engineers on the Western Front, where he began active duty as a combat engineer (2).

Then, on the 9th of May 1917, he detached to 1st Anzac Light Railways for duty as an engineer, he was temporarily assigned to help construct, operate, and maintain the narrow gauge railways essential for moving supplies and ammunition up to the front lines. One of his most remarkable achievements occurred 5 months later, on the 31st of October 1917 where he was honoured with a Military Medal (1) for his Bravery during the third battle of Ypres, also known as Passchendaele. It was cited that he displayed “great coolness and devotion” passing “8 times through heavy enemy barrage as a Company Runner”.

He was appointed Lance Corporal 24th November 1917showing recognition of his performance and leadership potential. On the 14th of March 1918, he was detached to X.Corps Lewis Gun school. He was sent to learn the operation, maintenance, and tactical deployment of the Lewis Gun, a highly effective, light machine gun used by the infantry and engineers for added firepower. 16 days later, he returned to his unit trained to equip himself with the Lewis Gun.

He died in action on the 23rd of April 1918 at the age of 20 and a half, during the German Spring Offensive at Stazeele, France. His life came to an end as he was shot while inspecting mines. One witness, J.C. Johnson states, “They (Russell and his lieutenant: Rochester) were going out to inspect mines and both were killed together, by same shell. This was in the evening about 23rd April. Both buried at Borre military cemetery. I have seen the two graves adjoining one another, both fenced in and crosses erected fully complete.” (3)

Robson was buried at Borre British Cemetery, Plot I.A.22 (1) , with a headstone inscribed, “Beloved only son of G.W. & C.G. Robson, of Lindfield, N.S.W.”

Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive
National Archives of Australia. “Russell Dunsmore Robson Service Record.”
http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=8033874
Australian War Memorial. “Russell Dunsmore Robson Collection.”
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1561637
Virtual War Memorial Australia. “Russell Dunsmore Robson.”
https://vwma.org.au/explore/projects/189078/edit?t=1755737331268&wizard-page-index=
Commonwealth War Graves Commision “Russell Dunsmore Robson
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/70778/russell-dunsmore-robso
n

University of NSW AIF Project “Russell Dunsmore Robson
https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=259179
End Notes
1 Virtual War Memorial “Russell Dunsmore Robson”
https://vwma.org.au/explore/projects/189078/edit?t=1755737331268&wizard-page-index=0
2 National Archives of Australia
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Gallery151/dist/JGalleryViewer.aspx?B=8033
874&S=20&N=80&R=0#/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ShowImage.aspx?B=8033874&T=P&S=1
4
3 STHS WW1 Honour Board Google Drive
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_tLjxAztSaRiBrx8-1s_3ot0s0Zr93ov