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Auction: 26003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 153

(x) 'He had a gift for friendship and an outstanding ability to get on with people'

(Robinson's obituary which appeared in the Surrey Advertiser, 21 March 1964, refers).

Three: Chaplain F. T. Robinson, Royal Navy, who survived the sinking of Audacious and went on to serve as the Chaplain of the hospital ship Plassy, doubtless providing much needed support during her services at the Battle of Jutland which saw many of the worst casualties taken aboard

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (Revd., F.T. Robinson. M.A., Chaplain, R.N., H.M.S. Hyacinth); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (Chapln. Rev., F.T. Robinson. M.A., R.N., H.M.S. Hyacinth); British War Medal 1914-20 (Chapn F.T. Robinson. R.N.), very fine (3)

Francis Trevor Robinson was born at Studley, Warwickshire on 3 February 1878, the son of the Reverend Thomas Robinson. He graduated from Trinity College Cambridge with a B.A. in 1902 and an M.A. in 1906. Ordained a Deacon in 1902 and a Priest in 1903, he was Curate at Bromley, Middlesex from 1902 to 1906.

Robinson entered the Royal Navy as a Chaplain in 1906, serving on Juno, Warrior and Hyacinth. Joining the latter in 1909, he being present with her off Somaliland and doubtless witnessing her part in the storming of Fort Illig. Still with her when she moved on to the Persian Gulf, Robinson again played witness to the ship's actions, supressing piracy and the gun trade in the region.

Joining Blake in 1911 before going ashore to Deal in 1912 he joined the battleship Audacious in 1914. Robinson was still with her on 27 October 1914 when she struck a mine off Tory Island. Despite several desperate attempts to take her under tow she went down, fortunately with the loss of just one man.

After the sinking Robinson was transferred to the hospital ship Plassy and was aboard her when she served as hospital ship to the fleet during the Battle of Jutland. During the action she took some of the worst casualties aboard, including men who had taken serious burns and shrapnel wounds from vessels such as H.M.S. Lion. Doubtless Robinson's services would have been taken up largely with been providing spiritual guidance and conducting funerals.

In 1917 he was posted to Ganges and in 1922 he began a five-year appointment at the Royal Marines depot at Deal followed by the Royal Naval dockyard at Portsmouth before leaving the service in 1929. He was Vicar of Chobham, Portsmouth from 1929 to 1948. He died at Woking on 17 March 1964; sold together with copied research and a copy letter sent by Robinson to a Mrs Newcomb whose husband died whilst serving on Hyacinth.

Both the published Naval rolls for the A.G.S. and N.G.S. show that he was issued with duplicate medals in 1946. It would appear that the duplicate medals appeared on the market in April 2023.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£260 to £300

Starting price
£210