Memories of Sgt. Bert Robinson 3rd Batt. Monmouthshire

Bert Robinson was born in Ebbw Vale, South Wales and served in the Second World War with the 3rd Monmouthshire Battalion, Welsh Borderers. This battalion saw service from 14th June 1944 as part of the Normandy campaign. The unit was involved in several violent and casualty-heavy engagements with German forces, one of which was near Brosville (?) on 19th July where Sgt. Robertson's company suffered heavy shell fire, and as a result of which all of the officers in his company were killed. He reorganized the survivors of the company to carry out the objective of taking the town and then mopping up the German forces in the area.

For his bravery and leadership, he was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal with the approval of Field Marshal Montgomery. Soon after this engagement, Sgt. Robinson was himself seriously injured by a shell wound to his right leg. After initially being sent to a military hospital in France, he was then transferred back to the United Kingdom to recover. His unit continued to see combat action until spring of the following year, when, after being decimated by casualties fighting in the Rhine region, it was transferred to the Army of Occupation.