Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Robinson, William Leefe
ROBINSON, WILLIAM LEEFE (1895–1918), airman, was born at Tollidetta, South Coorg, India, 14 July 1895, the youngest son of Horace Robinson, an owner and planter of coffee estates, by his wife, Elizabeth Leefe. Robinson was educated at St. Bees School, and, after travelling in France and Russia, entered Sandhurst, on the outbreak of the European War, in August 1914. He received his commission, in the Worcestershire regiment, in December, but on arriving in France applied for transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and was seconded, as observer, to No. 4 squadron 29 March 1915, qualifying on 15 April. He received a shrapnel wound during a flight on 8 May, and after his recovery in England learned to fly at the Central Flying School, Upavon, Wiltshire.
Robinson served with various squadrons at home until February 1916, when he was transferred to No. 39 home defence squadron. He was promoted captain on 1 September. In the early morning of Sunday, 3 September, he fought, and shot down at Cuffley, Hertfordshire, the German military Schütte-Lanz airship, S.-L. 11, one of fourteen airships which had set out to raid the London area. He had been in the air more than two hours, on his Bleriot Experimental 2 c, and had unsuccessfully attacked another airship before he met the S.-L. 11. The airship, which was of wooden construction, caught fire after Robinson had emptied into it three drums of ammunition from his Lewis gun, and it burned for two hours after striking the ground. Its descent was watched by thousands of Londoners as well as by the crews of several of the raiding airships, which at once dropped their bombs indiscriminately and made for home. The S.-L. 11 was the first enemy airship to be brought down on British soil, and by his exploit Robinson discomfited the largest airship raid attempted during the War. His success marked the beginning of the defeat of the airship as a raiding weapon. He was awarded the Victoria cross.
Robinson continued to serve at home until 17 March 1917, when he returned to France as a flight commander with No. 48 squadron. On 5 April he led his Bristol fighters in an attack upon a stronger enemy formation, but his engine was quickly shot out of action, and he was compelled to land within the German lines. The treatment, including solitary confinement, which he received during his long imprisonment, wore down his strength. He arrived in England from Germany on 14 December 1918, fell an easy victim to influenza, and died on 31 December.
[Official records; personal knowledge.]