Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Christopher Keith Robinson – WW1

Christopher Keith Robinson was born in February 1895 in Nailsworth, Adelaide. He worked as a railway employee until his enlistment. In fact, a significant number of soldiers worked for the railways before enlisting. Christopher’s biological parents are unknown. His foster mother’s name was Mrs. Sarah Ann Robinson.

On his enlistment, he was 19 ½ years old, his height was 5 foot 7, weighed 127 lbs, had a dark complexion, had tattoo marks on both arms and had brown eyes. His religion was the Church of England.

Christopher Keith Robinson enlisted at Morphettville on the 20th of August. He also trained at Morphettville and took his examination certificate there. He was training for 8 weeks before he embarked on the A11 Ascanius on the 20th of October 1914. His Captain was F. Chrimes. Two months later he landed in Alexandria on the Saloanha. They were in Alexandria for four months before they embarked on the H.M.T. Ionian (His Majesties Transport) to the Dardanelles. The Dardanelles is a narrow waterway in North-western Turkey. The troops of the 10th landed on 25th April. At some point on or before the 27th of April he was wounded. It was on this day that Christopher Keith Robinson died of his wounds on the H.M.T Ionian. Christopher Keith Robinson was single and didn’t have any children so his only family was his foster family. His family never saw him again after the 20th of October 1914.

The transport ship Ascanius (A11) a steam passenger ship which was demanded in 1914 as a troop transport for the A.E.F (Australian Expeditionary Force) and returned to the owner in 1920. Ascanius was part of the first convoy of ships carrying troops for overseas service to leave Australia in November 1914. Many South Australians were training at Morphett Ville transported on this boat.

There is a newspaper article that mentions his name. The newspaper article read, “ROBINSON. __ On the 10th May, at the Dardanelles, of wounds, received in action, Christopher Keith, son of G, and S. Robinson, aged 19 years and 4 months, Sadly missed.” He is buried at sea in Gallipoli and his cemetery memorial is at the Chatby War Memorial Cemetery (Row E, Grave No. 100), Egypt. His panel number for the role of honor is 60.

Christopher received a Victory Medal. He was deceased at the time he got it but it was sent to his mother, Sarah Robinson. The Victory medal was awarded to those who received the 1914 star. The Victory medal was never awarded alone.

No one forced Christopher to join the army. He joined of his own free will. He fought for our country and died for others' safety. He spent each second there fighting, training and pushing his body and mind over the limit. He showed courage by not turning back when he arrived at battle. He stayed there and pushed forwards hoping that he would live. Despite the threat to his own personal safety, he showed endurance and bravery. Not only physical endurance but also mental endurance and had to watch his friends and others die. This is hard to watch and Christopher had the will power to continue despite all that happened and still fight. Christopher was a young man with multiple attributes including integrity. When he fought he didn’t fight for himself he did it for his country. He did the right thing and didn’t commit any war crimes. Christopher had a moral compass that didn’t waver. He treated all of his friends and companions with the same respect as he would want to be treated. He helped anyone who was in need or injured event if it involved putting his life on the line. War took his life away from his. He died so young and had so much potential to do something else but war stood in the way of that.