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Lieutenant Colonel

William Robertson

VC CBE
Lieutenant Colonel; William Robertson; VC CBE
	Robertson on a cigarette card
Born	27 February 1865; Dumfries, Scotland
Died	6 December 1949 (aged 84); Edinburgh, Scotland
Buried	Portobello Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Years of service	1884–1920
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	The Gordon Highlanders
Battles / wars	Second Boer War; World War I;
Awards	Victoria Cross; Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire;

Lieutenant Colonel William Robertson (27 February 1865 – 6 December 1949) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

Robertson was 34 years old, and a sergeant-major in the 2nd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders, British Army, during the Second Boer War when the following action took place at the Battle of Elandslaagte for which he was awarded the VC.

At the Battle of Elandslaagte, on the 21st October, 1899, during the final advance on the enemy's position, this Warrant Officer led each successive rush, exposing himself fearlessly to the enemy's artillery and rifle fire to encourage the men. After the main position had been captured, he led a small party to seize the Boer camp. Though exposed to a deadly cross-fire from the enemy's rifles, he gallantly held on to the position captured, and continued to encourage the men until he was dangerously wounded in two places.^[1]

Further information

Robertson was later commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders as a quartermaster with the rank of lieutenant, becoming a recruiting officer in 1907.^[2] In 1911 he is listed as "William Robertson VC", recruiting officer, living at 21 Lee Crescent in Portobello, Edinburgh.^[3] He was promoted captain in May 1910,^[4] major in May 1915,^[5] and lieutenant colonel in August 1917.^[6]

In January 1918 he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his service as a recruiting officer in Edinburgh,^[7] retiring in March 1920.^[8] After retirement he became honorary treasurer of the Royal British Legion Scotland and became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1946 for this service. He also served as a justice of the peace.^[9]

He died at home on 6 December 1949. He is buried in Portobello Cemetery with his family. The grave lies against the eastern boundary wall.

Family

He was married to Sarah Ferris (d. 1950). Their children included William J. Robertson (1892–1964), Marion Robertson (1895–1971), and Ian Gordon Robertson (1897–1916).^[10] Ian was a second lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders and was killed at Beaumont Hamel in France on 13 November 1916.^[11]

Medals

His medals, including the Victoria Cross, are displayed at the National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland.^[12]

Freemasonry

He was a Scottish Freemason having been Initiated in Lodge Union, No. 332 (Glasgow), on 20 March, Passed on 10 April and raised on 1 May 1895. At a regular meeting of the Lodge on 20 March 1900 it was announced that Robertson had been awarded the VC.^[13]

References

^ "No. 27212". The London Gazette. 20 July 1900. p. 4509.
^ "No. 28091". The London Gazette. 20 December 1907. p. 8877.
^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1911
^ "No. 28381". The London Gazette. 3 June 1910. p. 3886.
^ "No. 29159". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 May 1915. p. 4538.
^ "No. 30222". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 August 1917. p. 8106.
^ "No. 30460". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 January 1918. p. 384.
^ "No. 31803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 March 1920. p. 2575.
^ "No. 37598". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1946. p. 2785.
^ Grave of William Robertson VC, Portobello Cemetery
^ "Second Lieutenant Ian Gordon Robertson". cwgc.org. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
^ "Victoria Crosses held by the National War Museum of Scotland". victoriacross.org.uk. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
^ Famous Scottish Freemasons. The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland. 2010. p. 88. ISBN 978-0-9560933-8-7