Otto Robinson was born in Baildon on 5 September 1884, the son of Cllr Shaw Robinson and his wife Faith. Otto married Mary Alice Fawcett on 11 September 1909 and they started married life at 20 Westgate. Their son, Eric Shaw Robinson, was born on 6 March in 1912 and the family moved to 1 Westfield Terrace. Otto was almost 32 years old when he joined the army in 1916 and details of his service were non existent in the local press until Baildon settled on an unusual form of memorial to honour the 134 men from the township who gave their lives in the Great War. Nurse’s Home Rather than a statue or a cross, the people of Baildon decided to build a nurses home and the honour of laying the foundation stone was to go to one of the 699 men who survived. Otto’s name was the one drawn in the ballot. On 2 December 1921, The Shipley Times & Express reported: ‘Mr Robinson, who is a master plumber, is the youngest son of Cllr

Shaw Robinson of Baildon and resides with his wife and son at 1 Westfield Terrace. ‘He joined up in the South Staffordshire Regiment on November 20, 1916 and went to France on February 9, 1917. ‘He had not been there long before he injured his ankle and contracted a bad attack of trench fever which necessitated his stay in a hospital in France for a month. ‘Then he was drafted back to England in April 1917 and from then until October of the same years he was stationed at Ripon. ‘He was transferred to the RAMC and sent to Blackpool, afterwards taking up his duties at Pembroke Docks. ‘In February 1919 he was demobilised and returned home on February 9, the same date on which he had gone to France two years previously.’

After reporting some of the speeches made by local dignitaries, the newspaper continued: ‘Mr Otto Robinson, laying the stone, remarked how greatly he appreciated the honour of having his name drawn by ballot from the 699 men of Baildon survivors of the war. Honour “It is an honour,” he added, “I did not wish but which at the same time I greatly value. “I would sooner the lot had fallen on some ex-serviceman who had suffered as a result of the war more than I did but when I was selected I could not very well refuse. “I knew most of those whose names will be on the roll of honour and I honour them for what they did for our country in her time of need.” ‘Mr Butterfield then presented Mr Robinson with a silver trowel as a

memento of the occasion. Mr Robinson accepted the trowel and remarked: “On behalf of the ex- Servicemen of Baildon I declare this stone well and truly laid”,’ Otto, Mary Alice and Eric were still living at 1 Westfield Terrace at the time of the 1939 Register. Confusingly Otto is given as a Bank Guard, Plasterer, Plumber. Mary looks after the home and Eric is a teacher. On 24 November 1943, the newspaper reported: ‘The death occurred on Saturday of Mr Otto Robinson of 1 Westfield Terrace, Baildon. ‘Mr Robinson was a former playing member of the Baildon Green Cricket Club and an umpire in the Bradford Cricket League.’ The following week, they wrote: ‘The funeral took place on Wednesday of Mr Otto Robinson of 1 Westfield Terrace, Baildon, the Rev E Wilson officiated.’ Among the mourners it listed were his wife, son, brothers Jerry and Waddington, and sisters Mrs C Oddy and Mrs W Fawcett. Thanks to Tish & Mike Lawson for their help with Baildon entries