Herbert Henry Robinson

Leading Seaman Robinson was killed on 6 December 1944 when HMS Bullen was sunk by German submarine U-775.

HMS Bullen was originally ordered as the Buckley Class destroyer DE78 on 10 January 1942 for service with the United States Navy but was transferred under the Lend-Lease agreement to the Royal Navy shortly after her launch on 7 August 1943 (Hingham USA). She was renamed for Captain Charles Bullen of HMS Britannia which served at the Battle of Trafalgar (21 October 1805).

During 1944 HMS Bullen served on convoy escort and patrol duties before transferring to 19th Escort Group, Western Approaches in October 1944, She left Londonderry for patrol off Cape Wrath on 1 December 1944 (Lieutenant AH Parish in command) and sank on 6 December following an explosion (see below). 71 of her crew, including the commanding officer, died, 97 survived.

LS Robinson was buried in Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery (grave ref. Plot P. Row 4. Grave 21). The cemetery is on the Island of Hoy, part of the Orkney islands.

Another Nottingham casualty, C/JX 407036 AB Arthur Ronald Wealthall, was buried in Eshna Ness Old Churchyard, Shetland. (See record on this Roll of Honour)

The wreck site is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

The RN Board of Enquiry held in December concluded that the explosion was caused by a mine as the Board considered that the likelihood of a successful torpedo attack was very low although a survivor reported seeing a torpedo trail before the explosion and two RN ships reported a successful attack (although erroneous) on a U-boat. However, German naval records sighted after the war proved that HMS Bullen had been sunk by U-775. ‘The torpedo hit her starboard side on the bulkhead between the engine room and number 2 boiler room. Taschenmacher reported the position of his kill as 58° 42′ N, 04° 12′ W.’
www.scottishshipwrecks.com/hms-bullen

German submarine U-775 was launched on 11 February 1944 and commissioned on 23 March 1944. Commanded by Obit. Erich Taschenmacher (23 March 1944-9 May 1945), U-775 carried out two patrols, 23 March 1944-31 October 1944 (training) and 1 November 1944-8 May 1945 (active service) with 1 ship sunk [steam merchant Soreldoc, US Army Transport Service], 1 warship sunk [HMS Bullen] and 1 ship damaged [steam merchant, Empire Geraint, Br. Ministry of War Transport]. Surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Trondheim, Norway, and transferred to Loch Ryan, Scotland, 29 May. U-775 was sunk on 8 December 1945 by gunfire (Operation Deadlight when 94 conventional German U-boats were scuttled). uboat.net/boats/u775.

CWGC Addtional information: Son of Hugh and Mary Robinson; husband of Barbara Elsie Robinson, of Nottingham.

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Lovingly remembered by his wife Barbara and daughter Pat'

Additional research/record updated, RF (July 2026).