James Smith Robertson
1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders
Died 18 July 1916
Private J. S. Robertson – Gordon Hrs.
Private James Smith Robertson was a son of William Robertson and Barbara Maria Smith. William was born in Banchory Ternan and Barbara came originally from Echt. They married at Kincardine O’Neil in 1894.
Private James Smith Robertson was a son of William Robertson and Barbara Maria Smith. William was born in Banchory Ternan and Barbara came originally from Echt. They married at Kincardine O’Neil in 1894. Their son James was born on 26 April 1895 at Pitcullen, Kincardine O’Neil, fifteen minutes before a twin brother, William. William (senior) worked at various times as a farm servant/labourer, ploughman at Milton of Learney and gardener. On census night in 1901, he was at Milton of Learney, and Barbara with the twins aged 5, sister Margaret (one year older) and their one-year-old brother Joseph were at Kirkbrae. Ten years later they were united under the same roof at Cothill (Craigmyle) and, after 1911, had an address at the Morrice School in Kincardine O’Neil village.
James Robertson enlisted at Aberdeen in the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders (S/13467). This was a battalion of the regular army, who were among the first to deploy in France, landing at Boulogne on 14 August 1914. Whether this soldier was already serving at that time we do not know. Certainly, he was in the ranks by 1916.
The battle of the Somme commenced on 1 July 1916 and continued to November when weather made it impossible for the fighting to continue. On 18 July the 3rd Division, of which the 1st Gordons formed part, had the task of recapturing those parts of Delville Wood from which the enemy had not been driven in the course of fierce combat in the preceding few days. Robertson’s battalion were ordered to make an assault on the village of Longueval, on the south-western edge of the wood.
On 15 July they moved to “Caterpillar Valley” in readiness for an attack planned for 18 July. On the early morning of 18 July, the battalion moved forward at 2am and an assault took place at 3.45am. They were successful in taking the village, but strong points north of Delville Wood remained in enemy hands, and the ground they gained had to be given up in the face of a fierce artillery bombardment. At about 4.20pm they were forced to evacuate all but the southerly points of the village. This was followed by seven hours of intense continued bombardment followed by a strong and determined counter-attack. There were very heavy losses – “4 officers killed, 7 wounded, 321 ORs killed wounded or missing”.
Private Robertson was killed on 18 July 1916 in the course of the assault on Longueval. He is commemorated on the memorial at Thiepval.
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died the Great War
Registers of births and marriages
Censuses 1901 and 1911
National Archives – War Diary of the 1st Gordons WO95-1435-1 (contains a detailed typed account of the action as well as the daily diary entry)
http://www.westernfrontassociation.com
http://www.thegordonhighlanders.co.uk/Pages/Diary.htm[hash]1916Jul
Terry Norman: “This is the Hell they call High Wood”.
