Robinson, Hector Aldridge (Corporal, b.1881 - d.1945)

Letters and documents relating to 682 Corporal (later Lieutenant) Hector Aldridge (Hec) Robinson. The letters are written to his fiancee, Miss Mable Broom and discuss home matters (including an offer to release her from their engagement arrangement upon enlistment); time on Lemnos; training as a machine gunner; impressions, military life and battles whilst in France.

Robinson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in February 1915 and was initially allotted to C Company, 22nd Infantry Battalion. He left Australia on 10 May and after arriving in Egypt several weeks later, proceeded to Gallipoli with the 22nd Battalion at the beginning of September 1915. At the conclusion of this campaign in December, Robinson and the 22nd found themselves back in Egypt at the beginning of 1916. In March he transferred into the newly-formed 6th Machine Gun Company and with his new unit, proceeded to France at the end of that month. Robinson, now a corporal, won the Military Medal at the Battle of Pozieres in late July 1916 for bravely keeping his gun in action in an exposed position. During this action he was also seriously wounded in the face and invalided to England to recuperate.

Returning to his unit in March 1917, Robinson was promoted to sergeant, then to second lieutenant the following month, and finally to lieutenant on 25 August 1917. The 6th Machine Gun Company was absorbed into the 2nd Machine Gun Battalion in March 1918 and this became Robinson's new unit. However, due to debility caused by his previous wounds (blindness in one eye), Robinson was invalided home, returning to Australia on New Year's Day 1919.

• Letters from Hector Aldridge Robinson to Mabel Broom, 1915-1917
• Letters from Hector Aldridge Robinson to Mabel Broom, 1918-1919