Private
James Leonard Robson
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About James Leonard

  • Name
    James Leonard
  • Initials
    JL
  • Surname
    Robson
  • Date of Birth
    1893
  • Birth town
    Brompton, London
  • Resided town
    Aberdeen
  • Commemorated
  • Nationality
    English
  • Place of death
  • Date of death
  • Married
  • Occupation
    Warehouseman

Service Information

  • Army

  • Service Number
    1503/200144
  • Rank
    Private
  • Regiment
    Gordon Highlanders

Biography

James was born in Brompton, London in 1893, but appears to have lived in Aberdeen.  James attested to join the Territorial Force of the 4th Gordon Highlanders in Aberdeen on 13 May 1913, aged 20 years.  He gave his address as 59 Irvine Place, Aberdeen and his occupation as an apprentice warehouseman with Anderson and Thomson.  His father, J L Robson was named as his next of kin.

James was mobilised on 5 August 1914, and served with the British Expeditionary Force from 19 February 1915 until 29 August 1915.  Whilst serving in France in July 1915, he complained that his eyes were causing him headaches and dizziness. He was diagnosed with amblyopia (lazy eye), a condition which would have developed in childhood. He was admitted to hospitals at Arque near St Omer, Etaples and finally to Rouen before returning to headquarters at Woolmanhill, Aberdeen where he was medically boarded for home service on 14 September 1915.

James was serving with the 4th Gordon Highlanders when he passed through Peterborough East Station on 3 November 1916.  His entry in the visitors’ book reads “thanks for your kindly courtesies beside thy heartstone shared, be every joy that round it lies and every blessing spared”.                    

He continued on light duties until 22 February 1917, when he was transferred to Class W (Territorial Force) Reserves. During this period he was attached to Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Longside, an airship station located at Longside, Aberdeenshire, also known as Lenabo.

Longside had three hangars, which would have been able to accommodate the largest airships being developed at the time, from the larger coastal or North Sea types of non-rigid craft, and those of the developing rigid fleet.  Airships from the station would have patrolled the shipping lanes in the North Sea and along the north east coast.  http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/RNASLongside

James was discharged on 14 December 1918, and gave his address as 2 Osborne Place, Aberdeen.  He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals, and the 15 Star.  He was also awarded a pension of 11s for 48 weeks.

We have been unable to locate any further information about James.  Please get in touch if you can tell us more about him.

Campaign Medals

The 1914-15 Star
The Allied Victory Medal
The British War Medal, 1914-18

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