Robert Horsburgh Robertson
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 2309
Place of Birth: Rutherglen
Date of Death: 06/05/1915
Theatre of Death: F&F
Age: 30
Regiment/Service: London Regiment (London Scottish) (14th Bn.)
Cemetery: Rue-Des-Berceaux Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L’avoue
Additional information: Son of Robert Holmes Robertson and Jessie Horsburgh Robertson, late of Stonelaw House, Rutherglen.
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of Mr and Mrs R H Robertson, Stonelaw House.
Soldier’s Effects information: Father Robert Robertson.
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour: 2nd s. of Robert Holmes Robertson of Stonelaw House, Rutherglen by his wife Jessie dau. of Robert Horsburgh and nephew of John Horsburg of the Hele Paper Co,. Ltd., of Cullompton, co. Devon; b. Rutherglen, 11 Oct. 1884; educ. Stonelaw School and Glasgow Academy, was in business with his uncle at the Hele Paper Co., Ltd., but on the outbreak of war immediately joined the London Scottish and was early drafted to France. He quickly rose to be a corpl., and was on the eve of being gazetted to a commission when he was shot by a bullet at dawn on 6 May 1915; unm. His Capt. wrote: “He was a splendid fellow, and had done so well that he was offered and had accepted a commission in the regt. He was greatly loved by his comrades.” He was buried at Richebourg in an orchard by the remainder of the “five inseparables,” of whom he had been one, and a cross marks the spot.
1911 census information:
Address: Royal Pier Hotel, Birnbeck Road, Weston-Super-Mare.
Self: Robert Horsburgh (26) cloth finisher, bleacher, born about 1885 in Rutherglen.
Also commemorated on the memorial at Stonelaw High School, Rutherglen and Stonelaw Parish Church, Rutherglen.
Newspaper transcript – Internationalist Hockey Player Killed. Mr and Mrs R. H. Robertson, Stonelaw House, Rutherglen, have received intimation of the death of their son Corporal R. Horsburgh Robertson. of the 1st Battalion London Scottish, which occurred in the trenches on 6th inst. Captain Newington, describing the circumstance in a letter to the parents, say: – “It is with great regret that I have to write and inform you of the death of your son, Corporal R. H. Robertson. He was struck by a stray bullet at dawn this morning (6th May.) I feel his loss very keenly. He was a splendid fellow, and had done so well that he was offered and had accepted, a commission in the regiment. In fact, I gave him a form to fill in yesterday. He will be vey much missed by all his comrades.”
Corporal Robertson was a well-known hockey player, and was the winner of many trophies. He was an internationalist for several years.
Newspaper transcript – Mr and Mrs R. H. Robertson, Stonelaw House, Rutherglen, received a letter from Captain Newington in France, announcing the death of their son, Corporal R. Roxburgh Robertson, of the 1st London Scottish, which occurred at the front on 6th inst. The letter is as follows -“It is with great regret that I have to write and inform you of the death of your son, Corporal R. H. Robertson. He was struck by a stray bullet at dawn this morning (6th inst.) I feel his loss very keenly. He was a splendid fellow, and had done so well that he was offered and had accepted, a commission in the regiment. In fact, I gave him a form to fill in yesterday. He will be vey much missed by all his comrades. Please accept my sympathy with yourself and Mrs Robertson. – Yours very truly, H. A. H. Newington.” The deceased was the second son of Mr R. H. Robertson of the firm of And. Robertson and Son (Ltd.), cloth finishers, Clydebank, Rutherglen. He joined his regiment in August, and went to the front in November . He had seen a good deal of the fighting in the trenches. He was a all-round and clever athlete, and an international hockey player with an excellent record. He was one of the most popular players in the West of Scotland, and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.