This site is dedicated to my Great Uncles - Jimmy Robertson, Donald Robertson - K.I.A- 1918, and William Robertson - D.O.W - 1917 - and to all that could have been................
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Donald Robertson's grave at Daours Communal Cemetery, France.
Picture kindly supplied by Marco Hoveling
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 Donald (Sonny) Robertson
Anzac Provost Corps
Killed in Action
20/5/1918
Awarded Immediate Military Medal for Gallantry
Buried Daours, France
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Military Medal Citation
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Corporal Harston and Trooper Robertson were on a post at Menin Advanced Dressing station on 26th September 1917, and were subjected to very heavy enemy shelling and bombs the whole time. In spite of this they carried out their duties in a courageous and cool manner. Several times it was only due to their coolness and courage that traffic was able to get through, and they were the means of saving the lives of many men and preventing transport from being blown up.
Recommended for Immediate Award.
Note - In the photo above you will see two headstones. One is Donald's - the one next to him is Alfred Lineacre Harston's. Both awarded the MM in 0ctober 1917. In May 1918 they were once again working together but this time both were killed by a shell, and buried side by side.
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 James (Jimmy)Morley Robertson
37th Battalion
Awarded M.M for Gallantry
Jimmy returned home from the war but suffered terribly,
from the effects of his experience. Read more of Jimmy's story and about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Click Here
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Military Medal Citation
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On the morning of 26th August 1918 at Suzanne Ridge, this N.C.O. displayed great gallantry and judgement in bringing fire to bear upon the enemy in his trench line of resistance. By crawling he succeeded in pushing his Lewis Gun forward until he had forced the enemy's gunners back to their trench. Then he swept the parapet with Lewis Gun fire, thus enabling the party on the flank to rush the trenches and enfilade the enemy. He continued his fire and pursued the enemy with it when they were routed, though in few positions was he afforded any cover from fire. He performed his role in the attack with great dash and sheer disregard for his own life.
At Bray on the morning of the 24th August 1918, this N.C.O commanded his team very well, and by careful manoeuvre silenced an enemy gun which was causing casualties on the 40th Battalion - all the while being in an exposed position.
Recommended for Military Medal by Lieutienant Colonel J.E.C. Lord, Commanding Officer - 40th Battalion
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 William Robertson 106th Howitzer Battery
1891 - 1917
No Known photo of William Robertson
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William Robertson's Red Cross Report -
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He was called "Robby". He had just come back from leave when he was killed. He was short and dark about 25-26. About 6th Nov 1917, in front of Zillebeke, he was hit in the back by a piece of shrapnel which penetrated his lung. He was spitting up blood at once. He died in C.C.S next day: it was the Anzac Dressing Station on the Dickebusch Road I think- I saw him hit. He was smoking a cigarette when they carried him off, and did not seem to be in pain."
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The Effect of War on Families
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I am currently researching the effect WW1 had upon the Families waiting at home for news of their boys. This is the untold story of war. In my own family the grief was overwhelming . Three sons enlisted - one returned home. As farmers - the loss of the sons meant the loss of the farm. The boys father is said to have just faded away after the war and died at 60 yrs. of age in 1921. My Nan always said he died from a broken heart. My Nan lost - 15 first cousins during the war.. Her sister Maudie, who throughout the war had handled all the war correspondence, died at the age of 32 from breast cancer. Could this have been caused by the traumas of the war years? My great Uncle Donald was engaged when he left for the war - his fiancee was pregnant but upon learning of his death was made give her baby up for adoption - she never married and spent her life working for the Red Cross. How many families did things like this happen to? We have statistics of the soldiers killed and wounded in the war - but what of the family cost of war? I am interested to hear anyone's thoughts about this. Please email me.
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