Charles Graham Robertson
Lance-Corporal, 10th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 1064 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 10th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers all Royal Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 8–9 March 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 9th April 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 4th July 1879 at Penrith, Cumberland
- Died
- 10th May 1954 at Dorking, Surrey
- Memorial / grave
- at Dorking Cemetery, Surrey
Digest of citation
For conspicuous bravery in repelling a strong attack by the enemy on the 8th/9th March, 1918 near Polderhoek Chateau, Belgium. Realising that they were cut off, Lance-Corporal Robertson sent two men to get reinforcements, whilst remaining at his post, along with one other man, firing his Lewis gun and killing large numbers of the enemy. No reinforcements came. Realising that he was completely cut off, he withdrew, with the only other survivor, took a place 10 yards to the rear. Here he successfully defended his position, staying for some time, firing his gun and inflicting casualties on the enemy. He was forced to withdraw again when the position came under heavy hostile bombing and machine-gun fire. Arriving at a defended post, he and a comrade mounted a machine gun in a shell-hole. From this position they kept up a continuous fire at the enemy who were now pouring into an adjacent trench. They had not been firing long when his comrade was killed. Lance-Corporal Robertson was to also wounded. In this condition he crawled back with his machine gun, being unable to fire it as he had exhausted all of the ammunition
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ROBERTSON, Charles Graham. (reg No. 1064).
Lance-Corporal. 10th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 9th April 1918.
Born on 4th July 1879 at Penrith, Cumberland.
Died on 10th May 1954 at Dorking, Surrey.
Memorial on grave at Dorking Cemetery, Surrey.
Digest of Citation reads: For conspicuous bravery in repelling a strong attack by the enemy on the 8th/9th March, 1918 near Polderhoek Chateau, Belgium. Realising that they were cut off, Lance-Corporal Robertson sent two men to get reinforcements, whilst remaining at his post, along with one other man, firing his Lewis gun and killing large numbers of the enemy. No reinforcements came. Realising that he was completely cut off, he withdrew, with the only other survivor, took a place 10 yards to the rear. Here he successfully defended his position, staying for some time, firing his gun and inflicting casualties on the enemy. He was forced to withdraw again when the position came under heavy hostile bombing and machine-gun fire. Arriving at a defended post, he and a comrade mounted a machine gun in a shell-hole. From this position they kept up a continuous fire at the enemy who were now pouring into an adjacent trench. They had not been firing long when his comrade was killed. Lance-Corporal Robertson was to also wounded. In this condition he crawled back with his machine gun, being unable to fire it as he had exhausted all of the ammunition.
Additional information:. Army No. G 58769, Lance-Corporal Robertson was the only son of James and Catherine Robertson, and a native of Penrith, Cumberland. After being educated in Dorking High School, he became a booking clerk. He served in the Boer War as a trooper with the Middlesex Yeomanry. He was also awarded the Military Medal in the First World War.
Additional information
Army No. G 58769, Lance-Corporal Robertson was the only son of James and Catherine Robertson, and a native of Penrith, Cumberland. After being educated in Dorking High School, he became a booking clerk. He served in the Boer War as a trooper with the Middlesex Yeomanry. He was also awarded the Military Medal in the First World War.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: at Dorking Cemetery, Surrey
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