James Alexander Robinson was born in 1888 at Nudgee, Brisbane. He had a long career as an educator, beginning in 1901 when he became a pupil teacher. He was a founding student of the University of Qld (BA, 1915). After serving in WW1 he became principal of Rockhampton State High School and Technical College. In 1935 he became principal of the Qld Teachers Training College, and was instrumental in its move to Kelvin Grove. After overseeing important changes to teacher training methods, he retired in 1954 but continued in an advisory role until 1956. He also served on numerous boards and advisory bodies. He was awarded an MBE in 1966 for services to education in Queensland. Robinson died in 1971.
Robinson’s service during World War 1 began in May 1915 when he was appointed lieutenant in the Australian Imperial Force. He joined the 26th Battalion, the largely Queensland derived infantry unit, and served in Gallipoli and on the Western Front. While on the Western Front he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and mentioned in dispatches several times. In June 1918 he supervised the salvage of German AV7 tank “Mephisto” and subsequently devoted some time to ensuring this war trophy was permanently housed in Queensland. He credited the decision to the Qld Governor Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams, to whom he was Aide de Camp in 1919 . Robinson was wounded in October 1918.