Merrill Chapman Robinson (1896 - 1970) – Canadian WW1 soldier

Born in Fort William Ontario on 13th May 1896 and known as  "Robbie", Merrill Chapman Robinson enlisted in the army in Fort William, Ontario on 6th April 1915, declaring his height  5'10" and his age as 18 years 11 months – although he was 16.  He initially joined the 52nd Battalion CEF and was posted to the 8th Battalion as a Private on 14th August 1915 in the field on the Western Front. Promoted to Corporal, Lance Corporal, Sergeant, Lance Sergeant, and Warrant Officer, Merrill was finally appointed CSM (Company Sergeant-Major).

Merrill’s service records confirm he was Wounded in Action (WIA) on the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge – 9th April 1917 – which was Easter Monday that year. His wounds cost him his eyesight and he nearly lost a leg. After a long period of convalescence in hospitals in England, Merrill trained as a physiotherapist and married one of his nurses – Ina Emma Langley-Fraser. They were married in Wandsworth, London, UK in 1919.   

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais Department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of the German 6th Army. The battle took place from 9th to 12th April 1917.  (9th April was Easter Monday in 1917.)

"Vimy Memorial at midnight", painted by 
Captain William Frederick Longstaff (1879–1953) - known as Will Longstaff - an Australian painter and war artist best known for his works commemorating those who died in the First World War.

After the end of the First World War, Merrill’s contributions to bettering life for the blind were outstanding. He was the Western Superintendent of the CNIB - Canadian National Institute for the Blind and served throughout the Second World War as General Chairman of Auxiliary Services.

In 1940 Merrill was invited by the Minister of Defence to form the first Citizen's Rehabilitation Council. He also worked with the National War Finance Committee and in 1943 was awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire). 

One of Merrill’s final achievements was as principal speaker at a World Council of UNESCO in Paris, France, in 1954, presenting his ideas about economic security for the blind. His post-WWI career is catalogued in a brief biography at UBC when he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law in 1957.

 Merrill died in 1970 and was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, B.C. (British Columbia), Canada.  His wife was also buried in the same grave. 

Initial source:

https://www.facebook.com/www.canadianwarhistorytours.ca

Additional sources:  Find my Past, FreeBMD,

https://canadiangreatwarproject.com/person.php?pid=115125