16A. ROBINSON, Walter Charles ( 1869 – 1937 )

Walter  Robinson emigrated to Australia as a 9 year old, with his adoptive Father, Keyran Robinson, before settling at Wellington, NSW.

He began a distinguished career in the Government Railways system, with his first post being at Springwood, NSW in 1884.  Walter transferred to Western Australia, with his wife Amy in 1893 and was appointed Station Master in Bunbury, where he oversaw development of the local Railway yards.  During these years , he had held a number of Commissioned Officer appointments with Light Horse Regiments, prior to the outbreak of the Great War 1914 – 1918.

Walter had been promoted to the position of Railway Superintendant at Geraldton, WA in 1912, and subsequently enlisted for War Service on 28 October 1914. He was immediately appointed as Captain of the 10th Light Horse Regiment. Walter embarked from Fremantle on 17 February 1915, before enduring 2 months at the Overseas Training Base in Egypt.

On 16 May 1915 he left the Port of Alexandria, Egypt as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces, bound for the Gallipoli Peninsula. Walter was promoted to the rank of Acting Adjutant of the 10th Light Horse Regiment at Anzac Cove Gallipoli. Unfortunately he suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his neck, right arm and left calf on 7 August 1915.. He was promptly evacuated by Hospital Ship to Egypt, then spent additional time in Hospital at Mudros, Lemnos before Muscular Rheumatism caused his evacuation to England, on 18 September 1915.

In late November 1915 , Walter was embarked for Australia , where the Medical Board at No. 8 Australian General Hospital Fremantle classified him as being permanently medically unfit for active service. His war service was thereby terminated on 29 February 1916.

Walter returned to the Western Australian Government Railways as the District Superintendant of the South West Rail System, which required the development of a rail network to cater for the ” Group Settlement Scheme “. He was forced to resign from this role in 1931, when ill-health, resulting from his wounding and service at Gallipoli, had finally reduced his ability to maintain his dedicated workload.

Walter Robinson had served as Treasurer of St Pauls Pro Cathedral, Bunbury  from 1928 – 1932 and built a distinguished record of service as a Member of the Wellington Lodge, up until his death on 9 April 1937.

( St Boniface Anglican Cathedral, Bunbury is classified as a War Memorial site, and there is a Commemorative Plaque dedicated to the memory of Walter Charles Robinson mounted on the Western Wing wall ).