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330296 Lieutenant Neville Arthur Robinson "Robbie"

Picture of Lieutenant Neville Arthur Robinson

Many thanks to Darren Kaye and Paul Pariso for providing the information without which it would not have been possible to create this soldier's story.

330296 Lieutenant Neville Arthur Robinson, "Robbie", CD, ADC was on born 3rd August 1924 in Hornchurch, Essex, son of Dr. Harold S. and Vera E. Robinson (née Stredwick).

He joined the British Army as a teenager and served in and after World War Two with the Parachute Regiment from 1941 to 1951 including combat in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. He successfully completed Parachute Course No.36, at RAF Ringway, between 5th and 12th November 1942.

Robbie served with 2 Para in N. Africa and Sicily. During this period of service he was wounded in Tunisia in Battle of Tamera and in Sicily at Primosole Bridge; the latter injury being sustained as part of the Intel Section of 2nd Parachute Battalion.

Promoted to Lieutenant on 29th July 1944, following which he posted to the 11th Parachute Battalion. During Operation Market Garden he performed the role of Home Details, so was one of the few men remaining from the battalion after the battle.

In July 1945 he was an officer in the 3rd Parachute Battalion, in 1948 joining 10th Parachute Battalion (TA), where he reached the rank of Major.

Following his service with the Parachute Regiment, Robbie emigrated to Canada, where he continued his military service. However, he still found time on 16th August 1952 to marry at Camp Borden, Ontario.

After emigrating to Canada he served in the Canadian Army from 1952 to 1982, sixteen of those years with The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

Postwar tours and postings included:

  • Egypt
  • Palestine
  • Greece
  • France
  • Korea
  • Cyprus
  • Belgium


Under his leadership as Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada, the battalion won numerous awards, and many of his officers went on to distinguished careers, four of them becoming generals.

He retired from the military in 1982 as Commander Vancouver District after 41 years of army service. However, this did not slow down his work rate:

  • Appointed Honorary Aide-De-Camp to the Governor General of Canada in 1980
  • Past President of the Royal United Services Institute
  • Past Commissioner of the Delta Police Board
  • Past member of the Delta Citizens Advisory Board
  • Member of and past director of the Beach Grove Golf Club
  • Member of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada Association
  • Member of The Parachute Regiment Association
  • Member of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion Association
  • Member of the 2nd Para (1940-45) Club
  • The National Defence Committee of the Federation of Military Institutes
  • Past member of the Board of Governors of the Outward Bound School
  • Member of the Dominion Institute Memory Project
  • Member of the Health Administrators Association of BC
  • Served as the Administrator of the Canadian Red Cross for BC and the Yukon.

Burial Plaque of Neville Robinson
Click to enlarge

Robbie died on 25th August 2013 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is buried at Boundary Bay Cemetery, Tsawwassen, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada




We are still researching the life of Lieutenant Robinson. If you are a relative or have any information about him, please contact us.




It would not have been possible to show the information contained on this page without the work of the following: Mr R.P “Bob” Hilton; Diana Andrews; Allan Brown; Andrew Blacklock: all of the staff at The Parachute Regiment & Airborne Forces Museum Aldershot; Gerrit Pijpers OBE; John Howes; and Graham Francis.
Additional genealogical data have been researched and provided by Doctor Jan Larder-Davis, primarily using the following sources: www.ancestry.co.uk and; www.findmypast.com