Robinson,+Leonard

Killed in action on 31st May 1916 at the Battle of Jutland when HMS Indefatigable was sunk at 4.03 pm.
 * Stoker First Class Leonard Robinson** of HMS Indefatigable. Service No SS/114190.

One of our 'Jutland 100' - Keighley's Men



1892: Born 9th May in Bradford. Parents William and Ellen Robinson. William was a Blacksmith labourer. 1911: Census. Aged 19 years, living at 14, Barley Street, Ingrow, Keighley with his parents. Occupation: Fitter for a Wringing machine maker. 1913: 11th June, Civilian occupation: Iron Fitter. Enlisted in the Royal Navy (for 5 years) as a Stoker 2nd class. Trained at HMS Vivid II - Naval Barracks at Devonport (Plymouth). Character: Very Good. Ability: Satisfactory. Height: 5' 4, 7/8". Chest: 36. Hair: Brown, Eyes, Blue. Complexion: Fresh. 17th November, transferred to HMS Conqueror (Orion class battleship). 1914: 11th June, promoted to Stoker 1st class. 3rd November, Transferred to HMS Vivid II. 10th November, Absent for 21 days - Punishment, 14 days in cells. 1915: 27th July, transferred to HMS Indefatigable. 17th November 14 days in cells (unknown reason). 1916: 31st May, killed in action during the sinking of HMS Indefatigable in the Battle of Jutland. His parents later lived at 3, Ingram Street, Keighley. Stoker Leonard Robinson is remembered on the Ingrow War Memorial at St John's Church, and on the Ingrow Council School war memorial which is on display at Ingrow Primary School. He is also remembered on the Sun Street Methodist Church War Memorial, which is in storage with Cliffe Castle Museum.

//Extract from the Official History; " Naval Operations" by Sir Julian S. Corbett. 1923// //At the other end of the line the duel between the Indefatigable and the Von der Tann had been growing in intensity till, a few minutes after 4.0, the British ship was suddenly hidden in a burst of flame and smoke. A salvo of three shots had fallen on her upper deck and must have penetrated to a magazine. She staggered out of the line, sinking by the stern when another salvo struck her; a second terrible explosion rent her, she turned over and in a moment all trace of her was gone.// All but two of her crew of 1019 died.
 * H.M.S. Indefatigable - Jutland Bank, 31st May 1916.**

HMS Queen Mary was sunk half an hour later followed by HMS Invincible two hours after that. 14 British ships and 6,000 Royal Navy men lost their lives in the battle, but the German High Seas Fleet (which lost 9 ships and 2,500 lives) would never put to sea again during WW1. There were other naval engagements between German and British ships during the remainder of the war, but nothing at all on the scale of the Battle of Jutland.