Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following information
William Robbins was born in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in Dorking, Surrey to butler George and Alice (nee Waring). William’s father George was born about 1855 in Berkshire, England. His mother Alice was born in the 3rd quarter of 1855 in Paddington, London to lithographer William, born about 1825 in Marylebone, and Louisa, born about 1826 in Esher, Surrey. George and Alice married in the 4th quarter of 1887 in Hanover Square, London.
William had three siblings: Winifred born about 1888 and George born in the 1st quarter of 1891, both in Paddington and Violet born on 29th December 1894 in Dorking, Surrey.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at 13 Westbourne Park Crescent, Paddington Alice was at home looking after her children Winifred and George.
In 1895, the family lived at Deepdene House, where George was working as a butler.
At the time of the 1901 Census, William’s mother Alice lived at Deepdene Lodge in Dorking. The household further comprised of Alice’s children Winifred, George, Violet and William. William’s father George Robbins was a butler for the Duchess of Marlborough at Deepdene in Dorking.
At the time of the 1911 Census, William’s brother George was a boarder of the widowed Ellen Berks at 52 Keslake Road, Keslake Rise in Willesden, Middlesex. George rented two of Mrs Berk’s seven rooms and was looking after his siblings Violet and William. George was working as an electrical engineer.
At the time of the 1911 Census, William´s mother Alice Robbins was a patient at the University College Hospital, Gower Street, London WC. She stated that she had given birth to four children and her occupation was a housewife. Alice Robbins died in the 2nd quarter of 1911 in St Pancras in London.
William enlisted into the 9th Middlesex Regiment in Willesden, Middlesex. He was a Private with regimental number 2852. At the time of his enlistment William lived at Kensal Rise, Middlesex.
Later, he was transfered into the 17th (County of London) Battalion, the London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles). He became a Rifleman and his new regimental numbers were: 6811 and 573613.
William disembarked on 1st September 1916 into the Western Theatre of War.
William had been missing on or since 1st October 1916 in France. His battalion attacked Eaucourt I’Abbaye during the advance on the Somme.William Robbins’ body was later found, exhumed and re-buried at the Warlencourt British Cemetery in France. His body was identified by a cross. His grave reference number is: VIII.K.25.
William Robbins received the British War and Victory medals
William left to his father George Robbins £2, 8s and 4d on 18th December 1917 and a further £8 on 7th November 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
| Born | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | George and Alice Robbins (nee Waring) | |
| Regiment | 17th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment | |
| Number | 6811 and 573613 | |
| Former Regiment | 9th Middlesex Regiment | |
| Number | 2852 | |
| Date of Death | On or after 1st October 1916 | |
| Place of Death | Eaucourt L’Abbaye, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 20 | |
| Cemetery | Warlencourt British Cemetery, France |
