More about James Robertson

James Robertson was the son of Private Charles Robertson (Army Service Corps) and Mrs Jessie Robertson of 80 Ward Road and 144b Lochee Road, Dundee. He was an Apprentice Mechanic at the Seabrae Mills when, in April 1915 he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training and he specialised in throwing hand grenades. In October he was drafted to the Anson Battalion which was serving in Gallipoli. After the withdrawal in January 1916 he was detached to the island of Stavros for garrison duties. In May, the Battalion sailed from Mudros harbour on Lemnos to Marseille onboard the Transport Ship Aragon. From Marseille the Anson entrained for the Western Front and readied for fighting the Germans. In October he was hospitalised with diarrhoea and returned to the battalion in late November. In March 1917 he was hospitalised again with a severe ankle injury and returned to the Anson in June when he was granted 10 days leave. On his return to duty the RND was moved to Belgium to take part in the fighting at Passchendaele and it was here in October that James Robertson was one of hundreds of RND men killed in action. His body was not found and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

James Robertson   CZ/4102   Anson Bn Royal Naval Division

DUNDEE R.N.D. MAN KILLED IN ACTION.

The death in action is reported of James Robertson, A.B., Royal Naval Division.  He was the eldest son of Private Charles Robertson, Motor Transport Army Service Corps, and his mother resides at 144b Lochee Road, Dundee.  Before enlisting in April, 1915, he was an apprentice mechanic in Seabrae Mill, Dundee.  He served for several months at the Dardanelles, but was later transferred to France, where he had been ever since.

Dundee Courier 14th November 1917