Christ College Remembers Lieutenant John Stanley Robinson

REMEMBRANCE DISPATCH No. 54 COMMEMORATES LIEUTENANT JOHN STANLEY ROBINSON (MASTER 1911-1913) WHO DIED WHILE IN SERVICE ON 13^th NOVEMBER 1918.

John Stanley Robinson, educated at St Paul’s School, London and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, arrived at Christ College in September 1911 to teach Mathematics. He immediately began playing a full and active part in school life, coaching cricket at junior and senior level, as well as hockey, golf and rugby football.

He was also an active member of the Cadet Corps during its revival in 1914. Although the War Office could not be persuaded to register the Cadet Corps as an Officer Training Corps, John Robinson was one of the masters who keenly supported its reformation.

Under the Military Service Act of March 1916, members of the teaching profession were exempted from conscription into service. However, John Robinson voluntarily enlisted and became an instructor in the Royal Navy in early 1916. He was assigned to the newly-commissioned Revenge-class Battleship HMS ‘Royal Oak’, which first saw action at the Battle of Jutland (31st May to 1st June 1916).

In the autumn of 1918 the ‘Royal Oak’ was anchored at Burntisland on the Firth of Forth. Lieutenant Robinson initially contracted influenza but, despite receiving medical care on shore, he died from meningitis at the Royal Naval Hospital, South Queensbury, Scotland on 13th November 1918.

The Breconian published a heartfelt In Memoriam for the master the boys knew as Mr Robinson. It recorded the depth of affection and respect of everyone at Christ College, and that “he too seemed to have a love for every part of it”.

Lieutenant John Stanley Robinson is buried at Queensferry Cemetery, South Lothian, Scotland. He is remembered on the war memorials at St Paul’s School, London and Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge as well as the Christ College War Memorial.