Major General Sir Alfred William Robin, KCMG, CB, KStJ, VD (12 August 1860 – 2 June 1935) was a New Zealand military leader.

His family immigrated to New Zealand sometime in 1861 and settled in Dunedin, in the South Island, where his father set up a coach building business.

[1] Robin had a keen interest in the military; while at school he participated in the cadet program and in 1878 joined the New Zealand Regiment of Volunteer Artillery.

[1] Following the outbreak of the Second Boer War, he led the first contingent of New Zealand volunteers, which numbered 215 men and their horses, to South Africa in November 1899.

[2] Well regarded by the British officers that he served under in South Africa, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath and mentioned in dispatches three times and on his return to New Zealand in May 1901 he became a national celebrity.

The council recognised the need to implement compulsory military training to improve the state of New Zealand's armed forces and Robin worked to achieve this.

In this role he worked under Major General Alexander Godley, newly appointed as Commandant of the New Zealand Military Forces.

Following the outbreak of the First World War, he played a key role in preparing the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) for service overseas.

[6] A memorial shield named for Robin is awarded each year to the winning cadet team at the annual New Zealand St John Youth competition.