Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Great War M.B.E., distinguished service K.P.M. group of five awarded to Superintendent W. C. Robinson, Metropolitan Police, latterly a Divisional Commander who had ‘charge of a large area of London during the air raids of the 1914-18 War’

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Civil) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1919; Jubilee 1887, clasp, 1897, Metropolitan Police issue, bronze (Insp. W. Robinson, R Divn.); Coronation 1902, Metropolitan Police issue, silver (William C. Robinson, Supt., Thames Div.); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police issue (Supt. W. Robinson); King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue, coinage head (William C. Robinson, Supt., Met. Police), mounted as worn in this order, rank officially corrected on the third, very fine and better (5) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Ron Penhall Collection.

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M.B.E. London Gazette 7 January 1918.

K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1914. The original recommendation states:

‘Superintendent Robinson is the senior officer of his rank not possessed of the King’s Police Medal. He has served for upwards of 41 years in the Metropolitan police and has attained the highest rank available to him. Throughout his official career he has shown ability, conscientiousness, and zeal and duty, and his record therefore has been distinguished.’

William Charles Robinson was born in Islington, London in October 1855 and was educated at the Wesleyan Training College, Horseferry Road, Westminster. Joining the Hampstead Division of the Metropolitan Police in August 1872, he transferred to the Lambeth Division in December 1874 and to ‘H’ (Whitechapel) Division in March of the following year, in the rank of Police Sergeant. Further advanced to Inspector 3rd Class in September 1881, he transferred to ‘R’ (or Greenwich) Division in the same month, and remained similarly employed until December 1896, a lengthy spell of duty that witnessed his elevation through the ranks to Chief Inspector. In the latter year, he joined ‘A’ (or Whitehall) Division, but on his advancement to Superintendent in August 1899, he transferred to the Thames Division as a Divisional Commander - in which post he received one of 51 silver Coronation Medals issued to the Metropolitan Police (and the only example to Thames Division). He then held the same rank in ‘N’ (or Islington) Division 1903-06, prior to taking up his final post in ‘V’ (or Wandsworth) Division. And it was while employed in this latter capacity - up until his retirement in December 1917 - that he was awarded the K.P.M. and M.B.E., the latter undoubtedly as a result of him having had ‘charge of a large area of London during the air raids of the War’. Robinson retired to Richmond, and thence to Brighton, where he died in August 1938.