James Josiah ROBINSON was born on the 29-Nov-1871 at Cramp Hill Darlaston, Staffs. He was a soldier between 1889-1902, and married on the 1-Aug-1897, in St Johns Pleck, Walsall Staffs, Emma Jane BROWN, (Jane most of her life). She was born in 1875, at Handsworth the daughter of Matthew BROWN & Jane.
On his Sons Baptism it stated his occupation as Soldier 38th Foot, and after investigation I found out the following:-
What follows is resume of his army career.
In 1705 the 38th Foot Regiment was raised at Lichfield and the barracks at Whittington near Lichfield was established in 1881
In 1881 the 38th Foot Regiment became the1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment
James Robinson Private 2157 South Staffs Regiment
James Robinson was already serving in the 4th ( Militia ) Bn the South Staffordshire regiment when he enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment at Lichfield Staffs on 9th of June 1890. Service in the Militia only entailed three to four weeks annual training usually in May for the Staffords.
James Robinson was posted to the Second Batallion South Staffs Regiment on the 20th May 1890. The Batallion was then stationed at the Curragh in Ireland. In April 1891 the Batallion moved to Wellington Barracks, Dublin. In December 1891 the Batallion left Dublin for North Camp, Aldershot via Portsmouth. ( For some reason the papers show that James Robinson James Robinson at Gibralter 7 March 1891 to 18 November 1891 ).
James Robinson was appointed a Good Conduct Medal 19 May 1892.
James Robinson forfitied his Good Conduct Medal 2 August 1892.
James Robinson Good Conduct Badge and Pay were restored on 17 May 1893.
James Robinson arrived back in the U.K. with the 1st Batallion South Staffs on 15 June 1893.
James Robinson was posted to the depot at Lichfield on 1st August 1893.
James Robinson forfitied his Good Conduct badge and Pay on 26th October 1893.
James Robinson received a Good Conduct badge and Pay on 26th April 1894.
James Robinson received a second Good Conduct badge on 26th April 1896.
James Robinson transferred to the Army Reserve on 8th January 1897. ( That means he came home but was liable to be called up for service ).
James Robinson was recalled to the colours as a reservist and posted to the 1st Batallion South Staffs on 6th January 1900.
James Robinson left the U.K. for South Africa on 17th March 1900 board the 'Aurania'. The 'Aurania' arrived at St Vincent, St Verde Islands on the 26th March and on 11th April 1900 landed at Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
James Robinson then served in the Boar War.
James Robinson left South Africa on the 41th June 1902 and was discharged on 12th August.
Although James Ribinson papers show him as being posted to the 2nd Batallion on 20th May 1890 his stations show he infact served with the 1st Batallion.
He was in UK
9-Jan-1890 to 06-Mar-1891
Gibralter 07-Mar-1890 to 18-Nov-1891 (The Ist Bn. were in Gibralter at this time. The 2nd Bn. were in Ireland.)
Egypt 19-Nov-1891 to 15-Jun-1893
Went to Egypt with 836 men + 50 wives & 56 children on the 'Orontes' on the 19-Nov-1891 arrived Alexander 9 days later to Cairo one year then back to Alexander in the 'Res-el-Tin' Barracks? Came home on the 'Jeluga' 200 Privates arrived Portsmouth 15-Jun-1893.
This coincides with the Ist Bn. service in Egypt.
UK 16-Jun-1893 to 16-Mar-1900 He spent the 08-Jan-1997 to 08-Jan1900 at Home.
South Africa 17-Mar-1900 to 14-Jun-1902 spent with the 1st Bn.
UK 15-Jun-1902 to 12-Aug-1902
This means that James Robinson did not go to Ireland to join the 2nd Bn. as mentioned earlier.
James Robinson should be entitled to the Queens South Africa Medal and Kings South Africa Medal for his Boar War Service.