WW1 Medal pair – British War Medal & Victory Medal - awarded to Private JOSEPH ROBINSON of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, later Labour Corps

Stock Reference - MM-MED-0018

WW1 Medal pair – British War Medal & Victory Medal - awarded to Private JOSEPH ROBINSON of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, later Labour Corps

You are looking at a pair of WW1 medals, British War Medal and Victory Medal awarded to Private 34811 JOSEPH ROBINSON of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, who later served with the Labour Corps (service number 375718).

The medals are inscribed ‘34811 PTE. J. ROBINSON. R. LANC. R.’

Research has been conducted into JOSEPH ROBINSON, but unfortunately, other than the medal records, no other service or pension records can be found to provide more information as to who he is and where he came from.  

As for service numbers, there is suggestion the number batch 34000 to 35000 was used for those compulsorily transferred into the Lancaster Regiment from other units, possibly around October / November 1917, to reinforce troop numbers due to the serious losses some regiments had sustained. There is also suggestion the Labour Corps number, 375718, was issued late August and September 1917. Neither of these claims have been backed up with evidence, and seem to be at odds with each other, in that the 5 x digit service number issued by the KO Royal Lancasters should predate the 6 x digit number issued by the Labour Corps, however the creation of the batch and the actual issuing of a number may be months apart, so Private ROBINSON could have joined the Lancaster Regiment in late September and the Labour Corps shortly afterwards.....This information has not been confirmed with detailed research so please keep an open mind as to whether it is correct or not, but if it is correct, it takes us no nearer to establishing exactly who JOSEPH ROBINSON is.

SELLER NOTE = Supporting documentation obtained and / or created during my research into this medal will be provided.