NAME Arthur Campbell Robinson
BORN Portsmouth England 29 January 1896
DIED Poss QLD after 1977
MILITARY SERIAL NO. 7548
UNIT 25th Reinf. 13th Batt.
ENLISTED Lismore 8 February 1917
DISCHARGED Medically unfit – gunshot wound to the head – Sydney 25 September 1918

Arthur Campbell Robinson was wounded at Villers-Bretonneux in France by a German explosive bullet penetrating his steel helmet and exploding inside … this shattered the right side of his head.  Two of his brothers had also served in the war – Arthur and one brother returned severely wounded . The third brother returned home returned suffering badly from being gassed.

Arthur Robinson took up a block on Mullumbimby Soldier Settlement on 24 February 1919.

Clearing land for bananas Mullumbimby Soldier Settlement: Digital id: 8095_a016_a016000077.jpg

The block was of poor quality on a clay ridge.   His banana crop was over taken by bunchy top and he was unable to continue – his poor health a terrible disadvantage. By January 1925, Arthur was suffering from ‘pains in the head … at times very bad … he was not following any occupation … existing on his pension’.[1]  His mother believed that the ‘only way her son’s health would improve would be to have freedom from worry’.[2] He vacated the block on 10 July 1923 with  his debt of £230, written off.[3]  After he left the block he lived with his parents in Nambour, QLD.  He stated on 18 January 1924, that he was earning nothing and had no assets.[4]

 Footnotes

[1] SRNSW: Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files; [12/6916 No. 3235] Arthur Campbell Robinson, A. B. Robinson to Mr. E.P. Fleming, 23 January 1925.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid, Memorandum, 10 July 1923.

[4] Ibid, Report of earnings, 18 January 1924.

Sources used to compile this entry:

State Records NSW:  Lands Department; NRS 8058, Returned Soldiers loan files, [12/6916 No. 3235] Arthur Campbell Robinson.

National Archives of Australia:  B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers (Arthur Campbell Robinson) online: http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=1902874