ROBERTSON, Malcolm Davidson
| Service Number: | 2435 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 13th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bungendore, New South Wales, Australia, 6 December 1881 |
| Home Town: | Picton, Wollondilly, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Manager |
| Died: | 13 November 1959, aged 77 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Picton and District Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 26 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2435, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 2435, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Sydney | |
| 20 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 2435, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Feb 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Apr 1917: | Imprisoned | |
| 21 Aug 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, Attack on Stormy trench at Gueudecourt on the night of Feb 4/5 1917 | |
| 27 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 2435, 13th Infantry Battalion |
Malcolm's Story
Born in Bungandore, NSW, the second son of Isobel and John Robertson, Malcolm was a Station Manager at Rowena when he enlisted in the AIF on 02/06/1915. He was sent to join the 13th Battalion 7th Reinforcements at Gallipoli. From there he went to France.
In February 1917 he took part in an action at Stormy Trench, North East of Gueudecourt, for which he was recommended for an award of the Victoria Cross. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery and initiative in this action. His Captain, ‘Mad’ Harry Murray, was awarded a VC for this action.
In April 1917, during the failed 1st Battle of Bullecourt, he was reported Missing in Action. It was later found that he’d been captured in Riencourt (the actual objective), and was now a Prisoner of War. He was subsequently imprisoned at Friedrichsfeld and Limburg camps in Germany.
Malcolm was repatriated to England on 9th December 1918, and returned to Australia on the ‘Ascanius’ on 8th February 1919.
Prior to his capture, Malcolm had been promoted Temporary Corporal, which was reverted to Private when he went missing. Once it was established he was a POW he was reinstated Corporal. For his was efforts Malcolm was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Though entitled to the ANZAC Commemorative Medallion, Malcolm died before it was instituted. On his return, the citizens of Rowena presented him with a gold medallion inscribed, “Duty Bravely Done”.
In February 1928 Malcolm married Florence Moore Cason Gillett in Brisbane. There were no children from this marriage. When he retired, he went to live in Tahmoor, residing for a short while with his younger brother, Struan. He died at Tahmoor on 13th November 1959.
Submitted 1 November 2018 by Andrew Dunreath-Cooper
Biography contributed by Andrew Dunreath-Cooper
Born in Bungandore, NSW, the second son of Isobel and John Robertson, Malcolm was a Station Manager at Rowena when he enlisted in the AIF on 02/06/1915. He was sent to join the 13th Battalion 7th Reinforcements at Gallipoli. From there he went to France.
In February 1917 he took part in an action at Stormy Trench, North East of Gueudecourt, for which he was recommended for an award of the Victoria Cross. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery and initiative in this action. His Captain, ‘Mad’ Harry Murray, was awarded a VC for this action.
In April 1917, during the failed 1st Battle of Bullecourt, he was reported Missing in Action. It was later found that he’d been captured in Riencourt (the actual objective), and was now a Prisoner of War. He was subsequently imprisoned at Friedrichsfeld and Limburg camps in Germany.
Malcolm was repatriated to England on 9th December 1918, and returned to Australia on the ‘Ascarius’ on 8th February 1919.
Prior to his capture, Malcolm had been promoted Temporary Corporal, which was reverted to Private when he went missing. Once it was established he was a POW he was reinstated Corporal. For his was efforts Malcolm was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Though entitled to the ANZAC Commemorative Medallion, Malcolm died before it was instituted. On his return, the citizens of Rowena presented him with a gold medallion inscribed, “Duty Bravely Done”.
In February 1928 Malcolm married Florence Moore Cason Gillett in Brisbane. There were no children from this marriage. When he retired, he went to live in Tahmoor, residing for a short while with his younger brother, Struan. He died at Tahmoor on 13th November 1959.
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