James Campbell ROBERTSON CB, CMG, DSO, MiD

ROBERTSON, James Campbell

Service Number: Officer
Enlisted: 14 August 1914, Toowoomba, Queensland
Last Rank: Brigadier General
Last Unit: 6th Infantry Battalion
Born: Toowoomba, Queensland, 24 October 1878
Home Town: Toowoomba, Toowoomba, Queensland
Schooling: Toowoomba Grammar School
Occupation: Secretary
Died: Natural causes (cancer), Toowoomba, Queensland, 22 January 1951, aged 72 years
Cemetery: Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery, Queensland
Memorials: Toowoomba Gordon Gymnastic & Athletics Club Honour Board, Toowoomba Grammar School WW1 Bravery Deeds, Toowoomba Grammar School WW1 Honour Board, Toowoomba Grammar School Wall of Achievement, Toowoomba Roll of Honour WW1
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World War 1 Service

14 Aug 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Toowoomba, Queensland
24 Sep 1914: Involvement AIF WW1, Major, 9th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Omrah embarkation_ship_number: A5 public_note: ''
24 Sep 1914: Embarked AIF WW1, Major, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Omrah, Brisbane
1 Dec 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Colonel, Officer, 12th Infantry Battalion
18 Jul 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Brigadier General, 6th Infantry Battalion

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Biography

"James Campbell Robertson (1878-1951), stockbroker and soldier, was born on 24 October 1878 at Toowoomba, Queensland, third surviving child of James Holmes Robertson, Scottish-born bookseller and stationer, and his wife Annie, formerly Hood, née Campbell. Educated at Toowoomba Grammar School, he joined the family business. He became a fine polo player and represented Queensland. In 1903 he was commissioned lieutenant in the 14th Light Horse Regiment and by 1913 was major commanding the 11th Infantry, Darling Downs Regiment, Australian Military Forces (militia). On 3 January 1912 he married Ada Elizabeth Godsall (d.1943) at St Saviour's Convent Chapel, Toowoomba; they had two sons.

On the outbreak of World War I Robertson was appointed major and second-in-command of the 9th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, on 20 August 1914. The unit disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt, on 4 December and helped to lead the assault at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, on 25 April 1915. Robertson was wounded during the landing and evacuated to Egypt. On resuming duty on 3 June he was appointed lieutenant-colonel commanding the 9th Battalion. He was again evacuated on 9 September with enteric fever and rejoined the battalion on Lemnos on 24 November. After the evacuation of Gallipoli in December the battalion returned to Egypt for re-equipping and training and Robertson held temporary command of the 3rd Brigade while there. For his Gallipoli service he was appointed C.M.G. and mentioned in dispatches. He resumed command of the 9th Battalion before its movement to France where, on 20 April 1916, at Rouge de Bout, Petillon sector, it suffered its first casualties on the Western Front." - SOURCE - READ MORE (adb.anu.edu.au)

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