| William Robinson was born in Manchester about 1877.
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| No details of his life can be found prior to enlisting, except that he is recorded as being employed as a mason. He was living in Tamlaghtmore, Coagh when he enlisted.
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| William Robinson enlisted on 21st May 1915 in Belfast. He was 38 years old. He names his friend as his next of kin, Thomas Norris of Tamlaghtmore.
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| Lance Corporal William Robinson served initially with the 14th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles.
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| On 11th November 1915, he was charged with ‘Creating a disturbance and using obscene language in his hut while on active service.’
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| On 20th November 1915 he was charged with being ‘absent from roll call 9.15pm till midnight.’
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 22nd April 1916:
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| Lance Corporal W Robinson, Coagh, writing from the front to Miss Livingstone, thanking her for a knitted gift and wishing her master and schoolmates a happy Eastertide, waxes poetical on the beauties of the country where he is. He has got accustomed to the sound of battle, and with his comrades is ready to obey the call of duty, believing that they are on the way to victory.
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| Lance Corporal William Robinson deserted in 1917, being absent from 19th February 1917 at Le Harve to being arrested on 18th September 1917 at Ballingory, Portadown.
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| In September 1917, military record the following: ‘Please note 679 Lance Corporal Robinson, 10th Battalion has been arrested and will be despatched to Southampton tonight. Depot Irish Rifles.’
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| Lance Corporal William Robinson was tried on 5th October 1917 and was sentenced to penal servitude for life. His sentence was confirmed by the Base Commander at Le Harve, but was commuted to five years penal servitude.
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| William Robinson was released from military prison on 1st November 1918. It seems he was sent to work in the sanitation department of a military establishment.
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| It seems he became Rifleman William Robinson again on 8th August 1919. He was discharged two day later.
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| Rifleman William Robinson later received both the British War and Victory Medals.
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