Bernard Harold Robinson

Bernard was the son of John and Hannah Maria Robinson. According to information provided on the 1911 census John and Hannah had been married for 33 years and had had 12 children born alive of whom only eight were still living at the time of the census. Ten children were named on the census between 1881 and 1911 although records of their births on the Birth Index have not always been traced to confirm the year of birth: Eliza A (b. abt 1879, Bulwell), Florence A (b. 1880, Bulwell, d. 31 January 1915), John William (b. 1881 Ordsall, d. 1881 A/M/J), Mary E (b. abt 1883, Ordsall), Gertrude Ada (b. 1888, Gotham), Adelaide (b 1889, Beeston, d. 1893 A/M/J age 4), Nellie (b. abt. 1891, Beeston), Sarah L/Y (b. abt. 1893, Mansfield), Bernard Harold (b. 1895, Skegby), Adelaide Winifred (b. 1897, Beeston). Their eldest son, John William, died shortly after his birth while a daughter Adelaide died at the age of 4. A daughter born some years after Adelaide's death was named 'Adelaide Winifred'. John Robinson was a police constable and the birthplaces of his numerous family and the frequent changes of address recorded on each census might indicate the number of transfers he had while serving with the police. In 1881 John (23) and Hannah (24) were living at Low Street, Ordsall, Nottinghamshire. Two children were in the house, Florence (1) and John William (no age given) who died the same year. Their eldest child Eliza was not at home and may have been staying with relatives or friends while her mother gave birth to John William. By 1891 the couple were living at 10 Broughton Street, Beeston, and six children were in the household; Eliza (12), Florence (11), Mary (8), Gertrude (3), Adelaide (2) and Nellie (9 months). The family had moved again by 1901 and were living at Fairlight Cottage, Blidworth. Six children were at home the night of the census: Florence (a dressmaker working from home), Gertrude, Nellie, Sarah, Bernard (6) and Adelaide Winifred (3). John later retired from the police and in 1911 at the age of 52 he described his occupation as 'police pensioner, storekeeper (colliery)'. He and Hannah lived at 15 Richmond Street, Mansfield, with only three children still at home; Nellie (asst. teacher Nottinghamshire council school), Bernard (horse driver) and Adelaide Winifred who was still at school. Bernard's sister Gertrude was married by the time of the 1911 census and was living at 17 Richmond Street with her husband, John Coleman, a miner, and their three children, Bernard Allan (4), Gertrude Vera (3) and John Leslie (1). According to the inscription on the gravestone in Mansfield (Nottingham Road0 Cemetery, another sister Florence married but died on 31 January 1915 aged 35 while her husband, Allan, died on 22 December the same year aged 34. Their surname is illegible on the gravestone and the record of their marriage has not been traced. A third sister, Nellie, married John Hinchley in 1915 (J/F/M). John served in the Sherwood Foresters (307675 L/Cpl) and was killed on 23 April 1917 less than two months before his brother-in-law, Bernard, also died. The Robinson family home was still at 15 Richmond Street when Bernard was killed in 1917.