38341, Private George Robinson HAZELWOOD [or HAZLEWOOD], 1st Battalion, Norfolk Regiment Later 48176 15th Essex Regiment

(Believed to be the “G Robinson” listed on the British Legion Roll)

George was born on the 20th April 1899 in Little Bealings the son of Arthur and Mary Ann Robinson (née Hazelwood). The couple had married after George was born, which explains the different surname.
In 1901 the family are living in Lt Bealings and Arthur is a Market Gardener but by 1911 Arthur is a widower with two more boys, David and Arthur Robinson. In this census return George is also given the surname Robinson.

By the time George enlists on the 10th April 1917, age 17 years and 355 days, the family is living at Copenhagen Cottages in Bramford. George’s civilian occupation was a farm horseman.

After enlisting George is put on Reserve until the 6th May 1918 when he is posted to the 3rd Norfolk Regiment. After training he is posted to France arriving in Calais on the 23rd August 1918 and joining 1st Norfolk in the field on the 29th August.
The next day the Battalion was moved up to the front line in support of attacks and subject to shelling on the 30th and 31st August. After briefly resting and reorganising on the 1st September they again moved up to the front line to take part in an attack on Beugny Village on the 2nd. It was during this action that George was wounded by a gunshot wound to the left thigh.
After treatment he rejoined his battalion on the 21st November 1918 but was transferred to the 15th Battalion, Essex Regiment on the 23rd March 1919. He was demobbed in October 1919.

In 1921 George is back with his father and brothers in Copenhagen Cottages where he is working as a ploughman. He married Fanny May Hubbard in 1925.
In 1939, now recorded as “Robinson G Hazelwood” he is living with his wife and family in Witnesham. He is a Horseman and Farm Foreman. He died in 1959.