Sergeant-Major William Robertson 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders 21st October 1899, Elandslaagte. |
At the battle of Elandslaagte, October 21, 1899, during the final and decisive advance on the Boer position, Sergeant-Major Robertson led each successive rush of his battalion, exposing himself fearlessly to the enemy's artillery and rifle-fire in order to encourage the men. When the main position had been captured, he led a small party to seize the Boer camp, which operation was successfully carried out, and though a deadly cross-fire was poured upon him and his men, he continued to hold on to the position, encouraging them until he was dangerously wounded in the body and sustained a compound fracture of the left arm. William Robertson, son of Mr. John
Robertson, of Dumfries, was Born at Greyfriars, Dumfriesshire,
on February 27, 1865. Enlisted in the 2nd Gordons at Devonport,
December 1, 1884, rising to warrant rank in 1895, and Quarter-master 3rd Gordons May 12, 1900.
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