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In memory of
Private
JAMES PETER
ROBERTSON
who died on November 6, 1917
Military Service:
- Service Number: 552665
- Age: 34
- Force: Army
- Unit: Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
- Division: 27th Battalion
- Citation: An extract from "The London Gazette" No. 30471, dated 8th Jan., 1918, records the following:-"For most conspicuous bravery and outstanding devotion to duty in attack. When his platoon was held up by uncut wire and a machine gun causing many casualties, Pte. Robertson dashed to an opening on the flank, rushed the machine gun and, after a desperate struggle with the crew, killed four and then turned the gun on the remainder, who, overcome by the fierceness of his onslaught, were running towards their own lines. His gallant work enabled the platoon to advance. He inflicted many more casualties among the enemy, and then carrying the captured machine gun, he led his platoon to the final objective. He there selected an excellent position and got the gun into action, firing on the retreating enemy who by this time were quite demoralised by the fire brought to bear on them. During the consolidation Pte. Robertson's most determined use of the machine gun kept down the fire of the enemy snipers; his courage and his coolness cheered his comrades and inspired them to the finest efforts. Later, when two of our snipers were badly wounded in front of our trench, he went out and carried one of them in under very severe fire. He was killed just as he returned with the second man.
- Honours and Awards:
Victoria Cross
Additional Information:
- Date of Birth: October 26, 1883
- Son of Alexander and Janet Robertson, of Medicine Hat, Alberta.
Commemorated on Page 317 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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There is a digital photo collection relating to JAMES PETER ROBERTSON.
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JAMES PETER ROBERTSON is a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
[COMPLETE LIST OF CANADIAN VICTORIA CROSS RECIPIENTS]
Burial Information:
TYNE COT CEMETERY
Belgium
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Grave Reference: LVIII. D. 26.
Location:
Tyne Cot Cemetery is located 9 Km north east of Ieper town centre on the Tynecotstraat, a road leading from the Zonnebeekseweg (N332). The cemetery itself lies 700 meters along the Tynecotstraat on the right hand side of the road.
Tyne Cot or Tyne Cottage was the name given by the Northumberland Fusiliers to a barn which stood near the level crossing on the Passchendaele-Broodseinde road. Three of these blockhouses still stand in the cemetery; the largest, which was captured on 4 October 1917 by the 3rd Australian Division, was chosen as the site for the Cross of Sacrifice by King George V during his pilgrimage to the cemeteries of the Western Front in Belgium and France in 1922.
The Tyne Cot Cemetery is now the resting-place of nearly 12,000 soldiers of the Commonwealth Forces, the largest number of burials of any Commonwealth cemetery of either world war.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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