James Peter Robertson

James Peter Robertson VC (October 26, 1883 – November 6, 1917) was a Canadian 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

Born in Albion Mines, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Robertson was 34 years old, and a private in the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 November 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium, when his platoon was held up by a machine-gun, Private Robertson rushed the gun, killed four of the crew and then turned the gun on the remainder. After inflicting more casualties and carrying the captured gun, he led his platoon to the final position and got the gun into action, firing on the retreating enemy. During the consolidation his use of the machine-gun kept down the enemy sniper fire. Later when two of the snipers on his own side were wounded, he went out and carried one of them in under heavy fire but he was killed just as he returned with the second man.

Further information

Grave/memorial at Buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Belgium. 5m NE of Ypres. Plot LVIII. Row D. Grave 26. Headstone.

The medal

His medal is not available for public viewing; it is still privately owned by his family.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)

External links

* [http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/content/collections/VC/detail.cfm?casualty=464460 JAMES PETER ROBERTSON] "(service/personal details, citation, relevant documents, burial information)"
* [http://www.legionmagazine.com/features/victoriacross/05-05.asp Legion Magazine Article on James Robertson]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6191 Find-A-Grave profile for James Robertson]