The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (774) Corporal Cecil James Robinson, 14th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (774) Corporal Cecil James Robinson, 14th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

774 Corporal Cecil James Robinson, 14th Battalion, AIF
DOW 13 August 1915
Story delivered 1 November 2017

Today we remember and pay tribute to Corporal Cecil James Robinson.

Cecil Robinson was born in 1895 to George and Kathleen Robinson of Thornton, Victoria. After attending the local state school, he worked on his father’s farm.

Robinson tried to enlist a number of times shortly after the outbreak of war in August 1914. However, standing only a little over 5 foot 2 inches, he did not meet the minimum height requirement and was rejected. He tried again in September 1914, hoping to become an auxiliary member of the artillery rather than an infantryman, and somehow was accepted for active service in the infantry.

Robinson proved an able soldier and was quickly promoted to lance corporal. He was posted to the newly-formed 14th Battalion and underwent a period of training in Australia before being sent for active service overseas.

The 14th Battalion left Australia on the 22nd of December, arriving in Egypt at the end of January the following year. After some time training in Egypt, the battalion landed at Anzac Cove on the afternoon of 25 April 1915.

Robinson clearly proved a capable soldier, and in July was promoted to corporal. The following month the 14th Battalion participated in an attack on Hill 971. At 9:30 pm on the 6th of August 1915 the battalion joined a column and began to march into position. The brigade commander, Brigadier General John Monash, wrote:
It was like walking out on a stormy winter’s night from a warm cosy home into a hail, thunder and lightning storm. We had not gone half a mile when the black tangle of hills between the beach road and the main thoroughfare became alive with flashes of musketry, and the burst in go
shrapnel and star shell, and the yells of the enemy and the cheers of our men as they swept in to drive the enemy from the flanks of our march.

The battalion arrived in position on 7 August and the following day launched an attack as part of the operation to capture Hill 971. The hill was taken, at great cost and for a short period of time, before heavy Turkish counterattacks forced the Australians to withdraw.

Robinson conducted himself well during the battle. Later reports indicated that he was “a most promising and brave soldier, putting up a gallant fight in a very difficult place.” But at some point during this battle, or more likely shortly afterwards, Corporal Robinson was shot in the head by a stray bullet. He was very seriously wounded, but was still alive when taken for medical assistance. The doctor told Robinson’s mates that he might still have a chance, but was probably being positive for the sake of Robinson’s friends. He laid Corporal Robinson aside for observation, and as his condition did not deteriorate, had him carried down to the beach and put on the hospital ship Guildford Castle.

Corporal Cecil James Robinson died on board the hospital ship on 13 August 1915. He was buried at sea the same day, a month short of his 21st birthday.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Corporal Cecil James Robinson, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Unit