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people of
Hornchurch. Unfortunately, on 16 September, he crashed his plane (2693) when attempting to take off for a night patrol. It was a total wreck; he escaped just before it was consumed by fire. This incident led to his being grounded, as he was too valuable a national figure, with a long string of official engagements, to run such risks. Only the propeller survived and is on public display in the Armoury of
679:. It was restored again between December 2007 and March 2008 as it was subsiding on one corner. A service of commemoration was held on 31 December 2018 led by Reverend Christopher Kilgour, the Vicar of the Parish of Northaw and Cuffley, on the date of the 100th anniversary of Leefe Robinson's death. An exhibition of photographs and memorabilia relating to Robinson was displayed in Cuffley Hall afterwards.
537:
346:. Robinson was in the air for several hours. After initially spotting the airship, he lost it in clouds. Later, he again made contact and attacked at an altitude of 11,500 ft (3,500 m), approaching from below and closing to within 500 ft (150 m) raking the airship from below with machine-gun fire of
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I climbed to 10,000 feet in fifty-three minutes. I counted what I thought were ten sets of flares - there were a few clouds below me, but on the whole it was a beautifully clear night. I saw nothing until 1.10 a.m., when two searchlights picked up a
Zeppelin S.E. of Woolwich. The clouds had collected
682:
A road is named after him (Robinson Close) in
Hornchurch, Essex, on the site of the former Suttons Farm airfield. He appears in a short segment of a wartime newsreel, although the location and date of the recorded event are unknown. Robinson's name appears on the triple VC memorial in St Bees School
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home of his sister, Baroness
Heyking. It was thought that his imprisonment had left him particularly susceptible. He was buried at All Saints' Churchyard Extension in Harrow Weald, with great ceremony. Thousands turned up to line the route of the procession, which was led by the Central Band of the
432:
I therefore moved to one side and gave them another drum along the side - also without effect. I then got behind it and by this time I was very close - 500 feet or less below, and concentrated one drum on one part (underneath rear). I was then at a height of 11,500 feet when attacking the
Zeppelin.
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Robinson landed his damaged biplane at 2.45 a.m. to tremendous acclaim from the squadron, and immediately wrote his combat report. He woke up to find that he had become a national celebrity overnight. He was splashed across all the major newspapers, and young actresses from the West End jostled to
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Just two days later, Robinson was awarded the
Victoria Cross – thought to be the fastest on record – and received the medal on 9 September at Windsor Castle, with huge crowds of admirers and onlookers in attendance. Robinson was also awarded £3,500 in prize money and a silver cup donated by the
418:
I managed to pick up and distinguish my flares again. At about 1.50 a.m. I noticed a red glow in the N.E. of London. Taking it to be an outbreak of fire, I went in that direction. At 2.05 a
Zeppelin was picked up by the searchlights over N.N.E. London (as far as I could judge).
443:
Having little oil or petrol left, I returned to Sutton's Farm, landing at 2.45 a.m. On landing, I found the
Zeppelin gunners had shot away the machine-gun wire guard, the rear part of my centre section, and had pierced the main spar several times.
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I judged it to be about 800 feet below me and I sacrificed some speed in order to keep the height. It went behind some clouds, avoiding the searchlight, and I lost sight of it. After fifteen minutes of fruitless search I returned to my patrol.
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By this time I had managed to climb to 12,000 feet and I made in the direction of the
Zeppelin - which was being fired on by a few anti-aircraft guns - hoping to cut it off on its way eastward. I very slowly gained on it for about ten minutes.
528:, illuminated by searchlights over southwest London, and shot it down with the loss of the entire airship crew. In all, five more German airships were destroyed by Home Defence B.E.2c interceptors between October and December 1916.
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I have the honour to make the following report on night patrol made by me on the night of the 2-3 instant. I went up at about 11.08 p.m. on the night of the second with instructions to patrol between Sutton's Farm and Joyce Green.
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When I drew closer I noticed that the anti-aircraft aim was too high or too low; also a good many shells burst about 800 feet behind-a few tracers went right over. I could hear the bursts when about 3,000 feet from the
Zeppelin.
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I had hardly finished the drum before I saw the part fired at, glow. In a few seconds the whole rear part was blazing. When the third drum was fired, there were no searchlights on the Zeppelin, and no anti-aircraft was firing.
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get an introduction to him. Tens of thousands of people made their way to see the remains of the airship at Cuffley, parts of which were sold by the Red Cross for charity fundraising mounted on pieces of card.
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Remembering my last failure, I sacrificed height (I was at about 12,900 feet) for speed and nosed down in the direction of the Zeppelin. I saw shells bursting and night tracers flying around it.
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in 1954, and contained a display of artifacts including the propeller from a BE2c aircraft; however these were destroyed by a fire in the 1960s, but the name was preserved when it reopened as a
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No. 2693, sighted a German airship – one of 16 which had left bases in Germany for the largest airship raid of the war over England. The airship he encountered was the wooden-framed
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However, the combat technique of using concentrated upward fire and mixed incendiary bullets had been proven by Leefe Robinson, and more successes quickly followed. On 23 September 1916,
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To the memory of Captain William Leefe Robinson VC, Worcs. Regt and R.F.C. who on 3 September 1916 above this spot brought down SL11, the first German airship destroyed on British soil.
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350:. However, these two runs were unsuccessful. He then tried his third and last ammunition drum, and the airship burst into flames and crashed in a field behind the Plough Inn at
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229:, on 14 July 1895, the youngest son of Horace Robinson and Elizabeth Leefe. Raised on his parents' coffee estate, Kaima Betta Estate, at Pollibetta in Coorg, he attended
213:, and caused the German airship bombing campaign to falter. In the three months afterwards, five more airships were shot down using the combat techniques he had proven.
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A memorial to Robinson was erected on the East Ridgeway in Cuffley, close to the spot where the airship crashed. The site was donated by Mrs J M B Kidson of Nun Park,
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Robinson was repatriated in early December 1918, and was able to spend Christmas with his friends and family. However, this freedom was short-lived. He contracted the
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After continual pestering of the authorities to allow him to return to active service, in April 1917 Robinson was posted to France as a flight commander with
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593:. He was kept in solitary confinement at the latter camp for his escape attempts. It is thought his health was badly affected during his time as a prisoner.
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I quickly got out of the way of the falling, blazing Zeppelin and, being very excited, fired off a few red Very lights and dropped a parachute flare.
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An Exhibition of the Victoria Cross Group to Captain William Leefe Robinson, Royal Flying Corps together with other medals and related memorabilia
581:. During his imprisonment, he made several attempts to escape and was moved around to several camps, including Fort Zorndorf (now Fort Sarbinowo,
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I flew about 800 feet below it from bow to stem and distributed one drum among it (alternate New Brock and Pomeroy). It seemed to have no effect;
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The propaganda value of this success was enormous to the British Government, as it indicated that the German airship threat could be countered.
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On the first patrol over the lines, on 5 April Robinson's formation of six aircraft encountered the
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Rimell, Ray (1989). The Airship VC: the life of Captain William Leefe Robinson. Bourne End: Aston.
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British propaganda postcard, "The End of the 'Baby-Killer'", depicting the demise of
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in this quarter and the searchlights had some difficulty in keeping on the airship.
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chapel, which was dedicated in 1932. His name also appears on the memorial at the
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in Robinson's "Prince Henry": a photograph published in the French news magazine,
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He was posted as dead until two months later a letter arrived from him in a
567:. Four were shot down. Robinson, flying Bristol F2A A3337, was shot down by
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William Leefe Robinson's grave at All Saints' Church Cemetery, Harrow Weald.
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on the Uxbridge Road, Harrow Weald. This building was originally opened as
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forces. He was the first person to be awarded the VC for action in the UK.
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The monument was unveiled in front of a large crowd on 9 June 1921, by
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In his combat report to his commanding officer, Leefe Robinson wrote:
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A Medal for Life: the biography of Captain William Leefe Robinson, VC
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1029:. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1985.
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Gunby, David (2011) . "Robinson, William Leefe (1895–1918)".
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889:"Captain William Leefe Robinson VC And Cuffley Airship SL11"
376:, shot down by Lieutenant Leefe Robinson on 3 September 1916
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in thanks for letting his land at Turnberry be used for an
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The Airship VC: the life of Captain William Leefe Robinson
737:– another VC awarded for bringing down the first Zeppelin.
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In April 2010, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the
642:, and the monument itself was paid for by readers of the
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His action marked a turning point in the war against the
671:. The inscription originally identified the airship as
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of 39 Squadron, flying a B.E.2c, spotted the Zeppelin
768:
citing Cooksley, P. 1999. VC's of the First World War
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British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
1189:– newsreel of the unveiling of the Cuffley memorial.
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extension that connects Grange Park to Cuffley, the
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Royal Flying Corps recipients of the Victoria Cross
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Update: Northaw and Cuffley Parish Council Magazine
518:. On the night of 1/2 October 1916, 2nd Lieutenant
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Leefe Robinson photographed at Suttons Farm in 1916
782:Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd London 1988 p. 7
395:To: The Officer Commanding No. 39 H. D. Squadron.
358:Wilhelm Schramm and his 15-man crew were killed.
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968:Leefe Robinson pub name restored in Harrow Weald
1268:Deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic in England
391:From: Lieutenant Leefe Robinson, Sutton's Farm.
245:, before following his elder brother Harold to
928:"Commemorations for William Leefe Robinson VC"
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629:Memorial to William Leefe Robinson at Cuffley.
512:, also of 39 Squadron, shot down the Zeppelin
1283:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
1273:World War I prisoners of war held by Germany
1122:(online ed.). Oxford University Press.
690:He is commemorated by the name of the local
1027:The Winged Bomb: History of 39 Squadron RAF
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857:on display in the Armoury of Culzean Castle
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694:steakhouse just south of the cemetery, the
257:1st XV and became a sergeant in the school
1012:The Air Defence of Great Britain 1914–1918
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648:newspaper. It takes the form of a Cornish
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1238:Royal Air Force personnel of World War I
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321:On the night of 2/3 September 1916 over
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277:in December. In March, 1915, he went to
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1233:British Army personnel of World War I
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1010:Cole, Christopher and E.F. Cheesman.
16:British WW1 fighter pilot (1895–1918)
1263:British World War I prisoners of war
1253:People educated at The Dragon School
957:The Late Captain Leefe Robinson V.C.
866:Cole and Cheesman 1984, pp. 174–176.
617:and died on 31 December 1918 at the
1208:Military personnel of British India
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1076:The Register of the Victoria Cross
955:British Pathe video newsreel film
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90:All Saints' Churchyard Extension,
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1278:Bishop Cotton Boys' School alumni
1258:People educated at St Bees School
1173:"Memorial To Robinson, V.C. 1921"
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926:Branigan, Carol (February 2019).
801:. 5 September 1916. p. 8704.
723:Captain William Leefe Robinson VC
497:in Ayrshire. It was given to the
271:Royal Military College, Sandhurst
1218:Worcestershire Regiment officers
760:"Captain William Leefe Robinson"
574:, and was wounded and captured.
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269:In August, 1914, he entered the
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1103:. Tunbridge Wells: Spellmount.
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194:. For this, he was awarded the
1154:Location of grave and VC medal
1099:Bills, Leslie William (1990).
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454:W. Leefe Robinson, Lieutenant
447:I have the honour to be, sir,
291:No. 39 (Home Defence) Squadron
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855:Picture showing the propeller
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700:The Leefe Robinson Restaurant
293:, a night-flying squadron at
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1223:Royal Flying Corps officers
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669:Secretary of State for Air
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1014:. London: Putnam, 1984.
973:15 December 2014 at the
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281:as an observer with the
190:over Britain during the
1162:VC on display at Spinks
1133:(subscription required)
985:Rimmel 1989, pp. 99–100
458:No. 39 Squadron, R.F.C.
450:Your obedient servant,
275:Worcestershire Regiment
1128:10.1093/ref:odnb/35804
1088:(P. G. Cooksley, 1999)
895:. Imperial War Museums
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548:, flying the then new
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259:Officer Training Corps
181:William Leefe Robinson
43:William Leefe Robinson
1045:. Bourne End: Aston.
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717:rail company named a
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121:Years of service
1177:www.britishpathe.com
1079:(This England, 1997)
1071:(David Harvey, 1999)
1068:Monuments to Courage
1041:Rimell, Ray (1989).
711:Great Northern Route
81:, Middlesex, England
1149:First World War.com
827:The First World War
813:The Story of the VC
811:Empire Productions
692:Miller & Carter
605:The VC memorial in
550:Bristol F.2 Fighter
916:Rimmel 1989, p. 99
875:Delve 1985, p. 18.
798:The London Gazette
735:Reginald Warneford
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58:14 July 1895
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1213:1918 deaths
1203:1895 births
1157:(Middlesex)
793:"No. 29735"
615:Spanish flu
163:World War I
145:48 Squadron
141:39 Squadron
1197:Categories
1110:0946771561
1052:0946627533
843:0946627533
742:References
591:Holzminden
299:Hornchurch
251:Cumberland
237:, and the
217:Early life
103:Allegiance
54:1895-07-14
40:Birth name
1183:26 August
1145:Biography
1086:– Air VCs
941:26 August
899:26 August
719:Class 313
704:Berni Inn
634:Memorials
563:, led by
481:Le Miroir
466:Celebrity
452:(Signed)
356:Hauptmann
341:Zeppelin
235:Bangalore
124:1914–1918
96:Middlesex
1164:part of
998:Archived
971:Archived
729:See also
685:Madikeri
619:Stanmore
579:POW camp
561:Jasta 11
151:Commands
79:Stanmore
653:obelisk
650:granite
640:Northaw
609:chapel.
374:Cuffley
352:Cuffley
323:Cuffley
200:British
188:airship
132:Captain
64:, India
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721:train
667:, the
589:) and
587:Poland
327:B.E.2c
279:France
243:Oxford
169:Awards
112:
86:Buried
931:(PDF)
747:Notes
597:Death
399:Sir:
372:over
369:SL 11
336:SL 11
303:Essex
297:near
287:Lille
255:Rugby
227:India
223:Coorg
62:Coorg
1185:2020
1105:ISBN
1047:ISBN
1031:ISBN
1016:ISBN
943:2020
901:2020
839:ISBN
525:L.31
515:L.32
343:L 21
202:and
137:Unit
129:Rank
69:Died
48:Born
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