William Robertson
1/7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Died 11th January 1917 age 22
Sergt. W. Robertson – Gordon Hrs.
William Robertson was born on 14 August 1894 at Kildour, Glen Tanar, son of Robert Robertson, Joiner, and Annie Garden. His father later lived at Sunningdale, Torphins. He may be the William Robertson who appears in the census as an apprentice carpenter at nearby Glenmuick in 1911.
This soldier served in the 1/7th Bn of the Gordons (no 564). He must have joined up voluntarily, as it was reported in the Scotsman on 11 June 1915 (pre-conscription) that he had been wounded in the arm by a German sniper and was in hospital in France. The same article referred to Sergt. Robertson’s father as “Quartermaster-Sergeant Robertson retired”. A further, less informative notice appeared in the Scotsman on 30 May 1916, indicating that he was again on the wounded list.
As his records have been destroyed, it is impossible to tell when William Robertson returned to active service, but it seems that he recovered in time to be wounded again, as the Press & Journal on 24 November 1916 reported: “News has been received by Mr Robertson, carpenter and joiner, Torphins, that his son Sergt. William Robertson, Gordon Highlanders, has received a bullet wound in the left hip. Sergt. Robertson, who is 22 years of age, was working as a joiner with his father at mobilisation, and has two brothers in the army”. It is possible, but again impossible to be sure, that he was wounded in the course of the 1/7th Gordons’ activities in the final days of the Battle of the Somme which came to an end on 18 November 1916. The Aberdeen Weekly Journal of 19 January 1917 carried the report that he had died in hospital as a result of wounds on 11 January 1917 aged 22.
Sergt. Robertson is commemorated twice at Torphins burial ground (A275 on North boundary) – by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and on the family tombstone.
Sources
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War
Identity uncertain in censuses of 1901 and 1911
The Scotsman 11 June 1915 and 30 May 1916
Aberdeen Weekly Journal 19 January 1917
Torphins burial ground – family and CWGC tombstones
