Lt Col Beverley Beverley Robinson DSO

[William P]

Hello

i I wonder if anyone can tell me why and when my grandfather (KIngs Own Yorks Light Regiment) won the DSO. 

I believe it was for something he did during the Somme. And I believe he was awarded the medal in 1917. 
 

thanks

[Michelle Young]

Welcome to the forum. Just a correction, it’s Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. A quick look at the London Gazette shows him being granted temporary rank of Major 12/09/1914, and a supplement to the LG 01/01/1917 shows him as Temporary Lt Col, but that’s as far as my searching skills can go. 

[Ivor Anderson]

He was made a Temp Captain 12 Sept 1914 (bottom right on page): https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28899/page/7219

Made T/Lt. Col 22 Feb 1916 to command a Bn. Yorks LI https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29561/supplement/4253

'Vacates command' of a Bn. 29 Dec 1917: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30602/supplement/3904

Relinquished his comm as T/Lt. Col with Yorks Light Infantry 18 Jan 1919, as DSO: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31831/supplement/3513

If you know what Service Bn. he commanded in WW1 their war diary may mention his DSO.

I suspect his DSO was for 'distinguished service' in taking on responsibility above his rank (e.g. temp command of a Bn.) over a period of time.

Edited 8 hours ago by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[William P]

Thank you so much Ivor and Michelle. 
I don’t know his battalion. He was born in 1881, so he was quite old when her served in WW1. As a very young soldier he also served in the South Africa war. 
 

[Ivor Anderson]

His MIC says he arrived in France in Aug 1915: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/4691507:1262?tid=&pid=&queryid=d7af28bb-3c97-42da-9a87-5c16bdbaf553&_phsrc=qzF21625&_phstart=successSource

The 8th service Bn went to France in Aug 1915: https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/kings-own-yorkshire-light-infantry/          

The Bn. moved to Italy in Nov 1917, which may explain him vacating his commanding role https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=6461

Their war diary is here: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7353267

EDIT: I cannot see him mentioned in the 8th Bn war diary - a Capt Poyser of 8th Bn got the DSO in Jan 1917.

Edited 8 hours ago by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[tankengine888]

I did my searches..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1917_New_Year_Honours
The New York Honours states that 'Temp Lieutenant-Colonel Beverly Beverly Robinson, Yorkshire Light Infantry' is among the recipients of the DSO.

I understand that some MMs were awarded without citations (especially with New Years honours).. does the same apply for a DSO?

Zidane

 

[Ivor Anderson]

1 hour ago, tankengine888 said:

Temp Lieutenant-Colonel Beverly Beverly Robinson

Thank you.  The spelling variation explains it not appearing in a LG search - until now: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29886/supplement/26

As a new years honours award it would be for distinguished service, like commanding a battalion. Possibly during the Somme?

Edited 7 hours ago by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[William P]

Thank you both Ivor and Tankengine88 

much appreciated!

 

[DavidOwen]

He commanded the 7th Service Battalion KOYLI from 22/02/1916 to 17/10/1916 was Temporarily Absent and resumed command on 29/11/1916 until 17/05/1917 was Temporarily Absent again and resumed command once more on 15/06/1917 until 4/10/1917 when he was Replaced. 

He then assumed command of 1/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on 12/4/1918 until 19/07/1918 when again he was Replaced and was not used again as CO of a Battalion.

Incidentally in August 1914 he was a retired Lieutenant KYOLI.

Source Battalion COs a PhD by Hodgkinson.

[William P]

Thank you David. Very interesting. 

[DavidOwen]

Relevant war diary free to download from TNA once registered, also free

7 Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry | The National Archives

Not yet found one for 1/5 Bn DLI but LLT has this Durham Light Infantry - The Long, Long Trail

[Ivor Anderson]

The history of the 20th (Light) Division (p.93) states (re 16th? Sept 1916):

"During the operation Lieut-Colonel B. B. Robinson, commanding the KOYLI was wounded by a shell that hit the battalion HQ, killing or wounding all officers there".

Inc. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/750492/alfred-furze/

      https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/813043/leslie-tilden-smith/