George Hubert Robinson served as a wireless operator and rear gunner in the Royal Air Force with the rank of Sergeant. He was born a middle child in a large family of nine children and raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His father was a coal miner, so money was scarce, particularly during times of worker strikes, which were common in 1923 Nottingham when George was born.
While still a baby, his siblings were frequently charged with his care and entertainment. When his older siblings forgot about him one day, we might expect a disaster to ensue, but not so. George was found, his pram righted, and he returned home unhurt. That set the pattern for his somewhat accident-prone formative years. No matter the fall, scrape, or bump, George emerged unscathed. His pleasing personality, coupled with a big, wide grin, made him popular with the girls as well as with his buddies.
The Robinson children were all expected to take the scholarship examination and continue their education, but that wasn’t the route George wanted to take. In fact, the family contended that George deliberately failed the exams so that he could attend the Technical School where he wanted to go. While there, his favourite reading included novels by Robert Louis Stevenson such as Kidnapped and Black Beauty, which he would then narrate to his siblings at night before bedtime.
On the day of his 18th birthday, George who loved his country, took his good-natured, peace-loving self to register for the Royal Air Force. Of course, he was required to join the Home Guard while waiting for his Call of Duty. But at age 20 he was posted overseas in Italy as a wireless operator and rear gunner. At the same time he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
He had only a few missions left to fly before his tour of duty ended, but welcomed his leave time, which he spent in Naples, Italy. While there, he sent a package and a letter home to his mother, which promised that “he knew the Gospel was true and that he was going to live it and was going to share it with his friends. He also sent his tithing home which included everything he owed, to bring it up to date.” Post was slow and uncertain during war time, so it would be weeks before his family received the letter and package.
In the meantime, on 7th July 1944, George H. Robinson’s plane was shot down over Klagenfurt, Austria, where he and his comrades were subsequently buried. The inscription on his gravestone reads: “Now he’s in the Lord’s safe keeping and wanted on the other side. Sadly missed.
Source:
Chapter 14, “George Hubert” (p 166)
