Joseph Robertson
- Admin
- Feb 14, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 21
16014 L/Cpl
1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division.
Age: 38
Date of Death: Killed in Action 16 June 1915
Family history: He was the husband of Christine Robertson of 105 Standburn, and they had four children. The eldest of three brothers who enlisted; he was employed as a miner at Muiravonside & Redford Collieries. His brother Robert Robertson died of wounds on 17 December 1914.
The action that lead to his death
9th Brigade, 3 Division, led the attack on the Bellewaarde Spur, known as the Battle of Bellewaarde Ridge, on 16 June 1915. They had been given the task of reducing the salient which had developed by the capture of the German positions between the southwest corner of Bellewaarde Lake and Roulers railway to the north of Railway Wood.
The 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers were in the centre of the first wave. They were to seize the trench between Y.13 and Y.15.
The War Diary records that ‘B’ Company was on the left and reached their objective under shell and rifle fire. On the right ‘A’ Company reached the enemy’s trenches with little loss. British artillery fire was causing heavy losses and impeding the advance. Despite this the battalion got forward however; they had to retire as a result of German counter attacks and held the line Y.13 to Y.14 The casualties were 411 killed, wounded or missing. Joseph Robertson was one of the dead. He will have known Samuel Wilson also listed in the Muiravonside Roll of Honour.
Medals Awarded
1915 Star, Victory Medal, British Medal
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