Grave of Captain Leefe Robinson VC

The grave, which is located at the south-eastern corner of the new graveyard on the south side of the Uxbridge Road, consists of a rough-hewn granite Latin cross with an inscribed sword on the face. It stands on a base with the lead inscription: ‘SACRED/ TO THE EVER-LOVING MEMORY OF/ WILLIAM LEEFE ROBINSON. V.C./ CAPTAIN Vth BATTALION WORCESTERSHIRE REGIMENT/ ATTACHED ROYAL FLYING CORPS./ BORN JULY 14th 1895, IN SOUTH COORG, SOUTH INDIA/ DIED DECEMBER 31st 1918 AT HARROW’.

The grave is surrounded by a granite kerb. The right-hand side of the kerb is inscribed: ‘HE WAS THE FIRST AIRMAN TO ATTACK A ZEPPELIN AT NIGHT. AFTER A MOST DARING SINGLE-HANDED FIGHT HE BROUGHT DOWN L21 [sic] A FLAMING/ WRECK AT CUFFLEY ON THE 3rd SEPTEMBER 1916. THUS HE LED THE WAY AGAINST THE GERMAN ZEPPELIN PERIL THREATENING ENGLAND’.

The left-hand side is inscribed with verse three of ‘Epilogue’ by Robert Browning: ‘ONE WHO NEVER TURNED HIS BACK BUT MARCH’D BREAST FORWARD, NEVER DOUBTED CLOUDS WOULD BREAK, NEVER DREAM’D THOUGH RIGHT/ WERE WORSTED, WRONG WOULD TRIUMPH, HELD WE FALL TO RISE, ARE BAFFLED TO FIGHT BETTER, SLEEP TO WAKE. – BROWNING.’

The foot of the kerb bears the inscription’ GOD QUICKENETH THE DEAD AND CALLETH THOSE WHICH/ ARE NOT, AS THOUGH THEY WERE. ROMANS IV 17.’

A marble urn stands on the grave although this may not be an original part of the memorial.

This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 16 June 2017.