Frank Hutchinson Robinson was born on 18 February 1899 at Middleton to William Hutchinson Robinson, a Methodist minister, and Mable May Ledger.

A cadet at the Public Library, Robinson joined up at the age of 18 on 23 April 1917. As he was under 21 years of age, his parents were required to give permission for him to enlist. Robinson's mother required that he remain in training in Australia until he was 19 years old. Subsequently, a letter in his service record shows that his mother and father gave permission for him to embark on active service and they did so on the condition that he serve with the Divisional Signallers. Initially a Private in B Company, Robinson attained the rank of Lance Corporal and was trained as a signaller. He embarked on the HMAT A71 Nestor on 21 November 1917 and served as a Sapper in the 19/5^th Divisional Signal Company on the Western Front. Robinson returned to Australia 13 November 1919.

Robinson resigned from the Library on 22 January 1920 'to go on the land' (Report of ...the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery...1919-1920, p. 7). He married Gladys Mary Lewis on 25 September 1926. They moved to Yantanabie in South Australia's west and their son Arthur was born at Streaky Bay in 1927. In November 1929 Robinson was made a Justice of the Peace. He died at Port Adelaide in 1970.

Robinson, Frank Hutchinson, 1899-1970

State Library of South Australia

AIF service record

Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery of South Australia. Board of Governors. Report of the Board of Governors of the Public Library, Museum, and Art Gallery of South Australia, with the reports of the standing committees for ..., Adelaide : E. Spiller, Government Printer, 1919-20, p. 7