Leefe Robinson

He attacked an airship at night then sent it down in flames.

William Leefe Robinson was born in Coorg, India, on 14 July 1895 and educated at Bishop Cotton School and St Bees. Commissioned in the Worcestershire Regiment in December 1914, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps as an observer. Wounded over France in 1915, he recovered and trained as a pilot, joining No 39 Squadron on home defence in 1916.

During the night of 2-3 September 1916 he intercepted the German airship SL11 near Cuffley. Repeated attacks from his B.E.2c set it alight and it crashed, the first German airship brought down over Britain by an aircraft. He received the Victoria Cross from King George V on 8 September.

Promoted captain, Robinson returned to France with No 48 Squadron. On 5 April 1917 his Bristol fighter was shot down and he became a prisoner. Repeated escape attempts brought harsh punishment and damaged his health. Repatriated in December 1918, he contracted influenza and died at Stanmore on 31 December. He was buried at Harrow Weald.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery. He attacked an enemy airship under circumstances of great difficulty and danger, and sent it crashing to the ground as a flaming wreck. He had been in the air for more than two hours, and had previously attacked another airship during his flight.

The London Gazette of 5 September 1916, Numb. 29735, p. 8704