The feature page
of Lance Corporal Bernard C. P. Robinson |
Bernard C P Robinson was my mothers younger
brother born in Sept 1916 in Widnes, Cheshire (formerly Lancashire) and
he was studying Law when the War broke out. He joined the Lancashire Fusiliers
and was on active service in Italy when he was killed early on in the
Battle of Monte Cassino in May 1944. Im not sure exactly when and
where the poems were written but I have had them in my possession for
several years now, along with other memorabilia (his last letter home,
letter of condolence from the King, newspaper cutting telling of his death,
photo of the cross marking his original grave) which my Aunt had carefully
kept. Last month I went down to Montecassino to visit his grave; this
I did partly for my mother who will be 100 in February and never managed
to get there. It was, I think, the very moving experience of seeing his
grave and so many other graves of young men that made me want to do something
with his poems so that in some way his memory would live on. I will attach
a photo of him in case you want that and also one of Monte Cassino.
Charlotte Hosking |
The poems Some gulped his opiate draught with gladness; (2) Briefly we snatch a fleeting glimpse of happiness Briefly we meet and yet more briefly part |
Photos Steve Fitt took on a visit in 2014 |