William Robertson (VC)

For other people of the same name, see William Robertson (disambiguation).

William Robertson
The battle of Elandslaagte
Born	(1865-02-27)27 February 1865 Dumfries, Scotland
Died	6 December 1949(1949-12-06) (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 VC CBE (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.

Further information

Robertson was later commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders as a quartermaster with the rank of lieutenant. He was promoted captain in 1910, major in 1915, and lieutenant-colonel in 1917. He retired in 1920. After his retirement he became honorary treasurer of the Royal British Legion Scotland.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
• Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Lothian, Scotland)
• angloboerwar.com profile