James Peter Robertson
Private, 27th Battalion. Manitoba Regiment. * Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Register No.
- 1067 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 27th Battalion. Manitoba Regiment. * Canadian Expeditionary Force (register: 27th Battalion, CEF) all CEF VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 November 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 11th January 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 26th October 1883, at Stellarton, Picton, Nova Scotia
- Died
- in action on the 6th November 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Belgium
Digest of citation
On 6th November 1917, at Passchendaele, Belgian, when his platoon was held up by uncut barbed-wire and an enemy machine-gun that was causing many casualties, Private Robertson rushed to an opening on the flank, attacked the machine-gun, he struggled with the crew, killed four of them, turned the gun on the fleeing remainder, who were terrified by his fierceness, as they ran for the safety of their own lines. His gallant work allowed his own platoon to advance. After inflicting several casualties on the enemy, he carried the captured machine gun to his final position and opened fire on the demoralised, retreating enemy. His determined fire subdued the enemy snipers. His actions, of courage and calm, in the face of the enemy were an inspiration to his comrades, spurring them on to greater efforts. Later, under extremely heavy fire, he went out to rescue two of our snipers, from in front of the trench, badly wounded. He was killed just as he rescued the second man
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ROBERTSON, James Peter. (reg No. 1067).
Private. 27th Battalion. Manitoba Regiment. * Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 11th January 1918.
Born on 26th October 1883, at Stellarton, Picton, Nova Scotia.
Killed in action on the 6th November 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium.
Memorial on grave at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Belgium.
Digest of Citation reads: On 6th November 1917, at Passchendaele, Belgian, when his platoon was held up by uncut barbed-wire and an enemy machine-gun that was causing many casualties, Private Robertson rushed to an opening on the flank, attacked the machine-gun, he struggled with the crew, killed four of them, turned the gun on the fleeing remainder, who were terrified by his fierceness, as they ran for the safety of their own lines. His gallant work allowed his own platoon to advance. After inflicting several casualties on the enemy, he carried the captured machine gun to his final position and opened fire on the demoralised, retreating enemy. His determined fire subdued the enemy snipers. His actions, of courage and calm, in the face of the enemy were an inspiration to his comrades, spurring them on to greater efforts. Later, under extremely heavy fire, he went out to rescue two of our snipers, from in front of the trench, badly wounded. He was killed just as he rescued the second man.
* Winnipeg .
Additional information:. 552665, Private James Robertson was the son of a Alexander and Janet Robertson, of Stellarton, Picton, Nova Scotia. They were of Scottish descent. He was educated at Springhill, Nova Scotia. His Victoria Cross was presented to his mother, Mrs Janet Robertson at Medicine Hat, Alberta, by Lieutenant Governor Brett on 25th April 1918. Three of his brothers, Dave, Alex and John, also volunteered for the forces, but his brother John was turned down: unfit for military service. His brother Alex was wounded and spent nearly a year in hospital, before being returned to France. Alex and his brother Dave, were still serving in France when the armistice was signed.
Additional information
552665, Private James Robertson was the son of a Alexander and Janet Robertson, of Stellarton, Picton, Nova Scotia. They were of Scottish descent. He was educated at Springhill, Nova Scotia. His Victoria Cross was presented to his mother, Mrs Janet Robertson at Medicine Hat, Alberta, by Lieutenant Governor Brett on 25th April 1918. Three of his brothers, Dave, Alex and John, also volunteered for the forces, but his brother John was turned down: unfit for military service. His brother Alex was wounded and spent nearly a year in hospital, before being returned to France. Alex and his brother Dave, were still serving in France when the armistice was signed.
* Winnipeg .
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Belgium
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