Captain

William Leefe Robinson

This webpage is dedicated to my Great-Great Uncle, born 14th July 1895, at the family home called Kiama Betta, in india, the family moved back to England in 1909 and Billy attended St Bee's School in Cumbria, then a few years later, enlisted at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst at the tender age of 19.

On 29th March 1915 he was posted to No 4. Squadron RFC based at St Omer in France. His first position in the RFC and seeing active duty was in late April, in reconnaissance and artillery flying in a BE2c, and was injured by exploding shrapnel on 8th May, and was hospitalised, and returned to 'blighty' for a months leave. On the 29th June, he reported to South Farnborough to commence flying training, and after 3 hours and 26 minutes of flying time, gained his Licence to Fly, he then was transferred to posted to Upavon in Wiltshire for his Advanced Training on various other types of aircraft, and after gaining his "Wings" on the 15th September 1915, he then was posted to the 19th Squadron based at Castle Bromwich, just outside Birmingham on the 20th September. and was then on the 24th December he was lent to the 10th Reserve Aeroplane Squadron based at the Joyce Green aerodrome near Sutton Farm, Dartford, Essex, for the purpose of "Strafing Zepps". On the 24th January 1916 he was training again and landed at South Farnborough, but the information I have at this point is confusing, as it seems that Billy was also called back to Castle Bromwich on the 12th, and the journey back by aeroplane took several days, due to the inclement weather at this time. After some further night training Billy returned back to the London area and then joined the 39th Home Defence Squadron, he was then put in charge of his own squadron 'B' flight based at Sutton Farm.

It is from this aerodrome that "Billy" made his now famous flight, taking off at a little after midnight on the 3rd September 1916. Climbing up to around 11,500 feet he leveled the plane out and started his patrol, he could see that the searchlights based at Finsbury and Victoria Park's had lit up the shape of a Zeppelin, in actuality it was a Shutte-Lanz Airship SL13, and by the time Billy had caught up with the airship, it had disappeared into clouds, but not giving up, Billy persisted and although very low on fuel and nearing exhaustion, spotted the airship and fired several rounds of the special incendiary ammunition into the airships underbelly, nothing happened for a few seconds, but slowly a deep red glow emerged from the doomed Airship and the fire quickly spread through the stricken airship as it plummeted towards the ground near Cuffley, and reached her final resting place just behind the still standing Public house"The Plough" ,sadly killing all 16 German crewmen aboard the SL13.

I recently visited Billy's grave, and it was a little neglected and run down, but as I had come prepared, me and my friend Keith Phillips soon had it looking spic and span, I vowed to come back at least once a year, and do the same again, and I have kept my promised. Go and have a look for yourself.