Alfred William Robin

I whānau mai i te 12 Aug 1860 - I mate atu i te 2 Jun 1935

Nama Hōia: South African 7005 AWMM
WWI N/N AWMM
Ingoa kārangaranga: —
Te Ope o Tū / te peka: Army AWMM
Te tūnga whakamutunga: WW1 Colonel/Military AWMM
Pakanga: South African War, 1899-1902 AWMM
World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM

Alfred William Robin — A Robin portrait, uniform, medals. St Clair Inglis, A. (c1902). Souvenir Album of the first New Zealand Contingent South African War. Auckland, N.Z.: Arthur Cleave & Co. No known copyright restrictions No Known Copyright Restrictions

Whakaatu mai ngā āpure e wātea ana Hunaia ngā mātāwai kōrero

Kōrero taurongo

Father: James Robin Baker; coachbuilder, died 20 November 1920, aged 91; Mother: Anne McDougall (died 26 August 1927, aged 88)

Education: Otago Boys High School, Artillery Cadet Corps

Commissions: Lieutenant 3 July 1889, Captain 7 February 1891, Major 7 December 1898)

Robin was Officer Commanding the First Contingent, which was dispatched to the South African War in October 1899. From May 1900 to April 1901 he commanded the 1st New Zealand Regiment and on 25 June 1900 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in the New Zealand Militia. Senior British and other colonial officers admired Robin's competence and his ability to inspire loyalty in those under his command. On three occasions he was mentioned in dispatches for his leadership and personal exploits, and he was appointed a CB on 19 April 1901.

He became a national celebrity, his portrait being included on commemorative medals, post office stationery and Christmas cards. He returned to New Zealand in May 1901 on the SS Tongariro (1 April 1901- 8 May 1901), was presented with illuminated addresses, swords and caskets, and on 14 January 1902 was given a Brevet Colonelcy.

From 1901 to 1906 Robin was commander of the Otago Militia and Volunteer District. In December 1906 he was appointed to the newly established Council of Defence as chief of the General Staff, the first colonial to hold the country's highest military position. The Council of Defence, feeling that the volunteer system no longer met the country's defence needs, determinedly prodded a reluctant government to introduce some form of compulsion. Robin helped to implement the system of compulsory military training after its eventual introduction in 1909.(Source = http://www.bowlerhat.com.au/sawvl/bio_britmil2.html)

Appointments: Brevet- Colonel, Defence Staff 14 January 1902, Officer Commanding Otago Militia and Volunteer District 1901-1906, Chief of General Staff + First Military Member, Council of Defence 19 December 1906 - 20 November 1910 (involved in introduction of CMT, 1909). Adjutant and Quartermaster-General December 1910. Colonel 1912. New Zealand Representative , Imperial General Staff, London, 20 June 1912 (attended military manoeuvres in England and France) December 1913. Quartermaster- General, 13 February 1914 (involved in preparation of expeditionary forces to Samoa and Egypt). Commandant, NZ Military Forces, 10 September 1914. Brigadier-General 18 June 1915. Major General 21 October 1916. Resigned as Quartermaster-General, 5 May 1919. Relinquished Command of the NZ Military Forces on 10 December 1919. Acting Administrator, Western Samoa, 1920. Posted to New Zealand Army Retired List, 1 January 1921.

Awards: Chevalier, Legion d'Honneur (1922), Knight of Grace of the Order of St John (17 May 1929), Silver Wolf (April 1933). The Silver Wolf is the highest Scout Award and was awarded to Robin as Metropolitan Commissioner of Boy Scouts Association, Wellington). King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, 1935

Auckland War Memorial Museum Scars on the Heart WWI "Sailing to War" display. Display item is a pamphlet titled 'Standing Orders for HMNZT Transports" dated 6 April,1915.

Auckland Museum Scars on Heart Boer War "New Zealand Mounted Rifle "Display. Display item is a badge."Some like the Major Robin badge put out by Vanity Fair cigarettes, championed local heroes" AWMM

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Alfred William Robin