Robinson | Macleod Bawtree | Lieutenant Colonel | Born at Grahamstown (Cape Colony), Jan 12, 1858; and is the eldest son of Edward A Robinson. He joined the Cape Civil Service in 1875, in which he held various appointments. In May, 1904, he was appointed Chief of the Detective Department in Kimberley, and Commissioner of the Cape Police, District No. 2, in April, 1904. On the amalgamation of the Cape Police, under the title of the Cape Mounted Police, he was appointed Commissioner in command at headquarters, Cape Town. He served with the Queenstown Volunteer Rifles in the Gaika and Galeka War, 1877-8 (medal and clasp), and was Captain of Nesbitt's Light Horse in the Transkei Rebellion in 1880-1; commanded a force of Mounted Police and Volunteers at Phokwani, in the Bechuanaland Rebellion in 1896-7 (Cape of Good Hope general service medal and clasps for Transkei and Bechuanaland); appointed Commandant of Colonial Forces in 1899 in Griqualand West and Bechuanaland, with the local rank of Lieutenant Colonel He served in the Boer War, 1899-1902, as Town Commandant during the siege of Kimberley, and took part in the defence of that town (mentioned in despatches, medal and clasp); commanded the 2nd Div. of the Cape Colonial Forces from July to Sep, 1902. In recognition of his services during the War, he was authorised by the Govt, to retain the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He married, first, in 1887, Annie, daughter of James Ayliff (died in 1891), and, secondly, in 1896, Theodora, daughter of Laurence Dahl.
Source: List of CMG recipients. Various sources | Cape Police |