Regiment: H. M. S. Aboukir.
Died: 22 September 1914 aged 33 in United Kingdom. Drowned in the 'Abou Kir'.
Cemetery: Chatham Naval Mem 1
Son of T. Robson, Uphill House, Finchley New Road, N.W. b. 1881.
Lower IV—Upper V. School Prefect. XI Football; XL Cricket. Lieutenant in Corps.
Clare College, Cambridge; B.A. 1904.
Schoolmaster; ordained 1912; Curate of Malvern College Mission 1912; Hitchin 1914; Chaplain R.N. 1914.
'Malvernians past and present saw with deep regret the name of E. G. U. Robson on the list of the officers who went down with the Aboukir. It was not many weeks ago that he joined that ship and so attained what had long been his heart's desire, to serve as a Naval Chaplain.
He was the second of three brothers who were in the School House; he came to Malvern in Jan. 1896 and stayed till July 1901. When he left, he was in the Upper Fifth. The Register states the bare facts of his career at Malvern : School Prefect, First Eleven Football, Forty Cap Cricket, Lieut, in Corps—in other words, he was a conspicuous and distinguished member of the School. But the Register cannot state more than bare facts, and those who remember him as a boy think of him as unusually vigorous and persevering in whatever he did. Football was his best game. He was a really excellent centre-half, and made up for his lack of size and weight by pluck and pertinacity. His influence in the School and in his house was always exercised on the right side, and he was much missed when the time came for him to leave and go up to Clare.
At Cambridge he maintained his high reputation in every way, and took his degree in 1904.
After a period of service as a preparatory schoolmaster he was ordained, and, as most of our readers know, joined the staff of the School Mission as Mr. Tinley's assistant. There he did much useful work, and was delighted to renew his connection with his old school. Many present members of the School will remember the earnestness, not wholly free from natural diffidence, with which he spoke and preached here more than once. Unfortunately his health was not equal to his energy, and eventually he was obliged to leave the Mission and take a curacy at Hitchin, where he remained till he entered the Navy. There have been few more loyal Malvernians and few better fellows. He may be accounted happy in that he gave his life for his country, faithful to the traditions of the noble Service which he had so lately joined.' (Malvernian, Nov 1914)
H.M.S. Aboukir was sunk by the submarine U-9 at 06:20 on the 22nd September 1914 whilst patrolling the North Sea along with two other cruisers which were also sunk.
Wikipedia article on sinking