Allegiance Canada Name James Robertson Rank Private | Years of service 1915 - 1917 Role Armed force officer Awards Victoria Cross | |
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Buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele Unit 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion Battles/wars World War I
Western Front Died November 6, 1917, Passendale, Belgium Place of burial Tyne Cot, Zonnebeke, Belgium Service/branch Canadian Expeditionary Force Battles and wars Western Front, World War I | ||
James Peter Robertson VC (26 October 1883 – 6 November 1917) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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Details
Born in Albion Mines (now called Stellarton), Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Robertson enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in June 1915. Robertson was 34 years old, and a private in the 27th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
Peter Robertson earned the Victoria Cross during the final assault on Passchendaele, Belgium, 6 November 1917 with the 27th Infantry Battalion. His platoon was held up by barbed wire and a German machine gun. He was able to dash round to an opening on the flank of the enemy position and rush the gun. After a desperate struggle, Robertson killed four of the crew, then turned the enemy gun on the remainder. This enabled his platoon to continue towards its objective, with Robertson still firing the captured gun at the enemy as it retreated. Later when two of his own snipers were wounded in front of their trench, he went out and carried one of them in under severe fire, but when he returned with the second man, he was killed by a bursting shell.
Further information
Robertson is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Belgium, located 5 miles north east of Ypres. (Plot LVIII. Row D. Grave 26).
The medal
His medal is not available for public viewing as it is privately owned by his family.
Legacy
On 10 February 2011, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced that the nine new vessels in a new class of midshore patrol vessels would be named the Hero-class patrol vessels. One of the new vessels will be named the CCGS Private Robertson V.C..