Private Merrill Chapman Robinson
Regimental Number: |
438462
|
Survived War: |
Yes |
Force: |
Army |
Regiment: |
Canadian Infantry |
Battalion: |
8th Battalion |
Company: |
|
Place of Birth: |
Fort William, Ontario |
Country: |
Canada |
Next of Kin: |
Mrs. Jane Robinson, mother, 227 Ross Street, Fort William, Ontario |
Address at Enlistment: |
|
Date of Birth: |
May 13, 1896 |
Trade or Calling: |
Assistant Civil Engineer |
Marital Status: |
Single |
Prior Military Experience: |
No |
Place of Enlistment: |
Fort William, Ontario |
Date of Enlistment: |
April 6, 1915 |
Age at enlistment: |
18 |
Height: |
5 Feet 10 Inches |
Chest: |
35 Inches |
Expansion: |
3 Inches |
Religion: |
Baptist |
Enlisted or Conscripted: |
Enlisted |
Saw service in: |
Europe |
|
|
Cause of Death: |
Survived |
Battle Died/Wounded: |
|
Date of Death: |
|
Age at Death: |
|
Buried at: |
Unknown |
Plot: |
|
Commemorated: |
|
|
|
Prisoner of war: |
No |
Interned: |
|
Gender: |
Male |
Ethnic Origin: |
Caucasian |
LAC Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1Box 8393 - 1 |
Research Notes |
MBE, 14/15 Star Trio, 37 Coronation and 53 Coronation medals exist. |
Rank |
Regiment |
Unit |
Company |
Private
|
Canadian Infantry |
8th Battalion |
|
Private
|
Canadian Infantry |
52nd Battalion |
|
Chapman was born at Fort William Ontario, enlisting in the 52nd Battalion CEF on 6 April 1915; he joined the 8th Battalion on 14 August 1915 in the field. He was appointed Lance-Sergeant in 1916. Robinson's service records confirm he was WIA on the first day of battle of VIMY RIDGE. The wounds cost him his vision and he nearly lost his leg. After a long recovery in hospitals in England he trained as a physiotherapist and married one of his nurses. In 1940 he was invited by the Minister of Defence to form the first Citizen's Rehabilitation Council. He also worked with the National War Finance Committee and in 1943 was awarded the MBE. His post-WWI career is catalogued in a brief biography at UBC when he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws in 1957. |
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