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Australia

When William Gray Dixon Robertson was born on 30 March, 1895, in Ceres, Victoria, his father, Colin (1856 to 1949), was 38 and his mother, Margaret Gray, nee Dixon (1864 to 1949), was 30. His father, the Reverend Colin Robertson, was once a minister of the church in Corryong district from 1907 to 1915. William had seven other siblings, being the eldest son; Jean Gray (1892 to 1967), Isabel Croll (1892 to ?), Margaret Colina (1894 to 1976), John Noel (1897 to 1917), Colin Cargill (1899 to 1899), Colin James Dixon (1901 to 1959), Bessie Glen (1903 to 1979) and George Munro (1908 to 1985).

When William enlisted at Geelong, Victoria on the 18 January, 1915, he was a single, 19-year-old farm student from Moe in Victoria. His enlistment papers provide a description of a young man who was 5 foot 6 inches tall (168 cm), weighing 156 lbs (71 kg), having a medium complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. He had two vaccination marks on his left arm and a scar that ran along the inside of his left tibia. William gave his religious denomination as Presbyterian. As William was under 20 at the time of enlistment, he required a note from his father that said consent was given for William to join. His father wrote such a letter on the 19 January, 1915, and sent it to Victoria Barracks in Melbourne. Upon enlisting he was taken on strength with A Squadron of the 13th Light Horse.

William and the rest of the 13th Light Horse, embarked on the HMAT A44 Vestalia on the 26 June, 1915, and sailed from Melbourne, Victoria.

The 13th Light Horse would spend some time in Egypt training under desert conditions. Due to the high casualty rate in the infantry units fighting at Gallipoli, it was decided to send the Light Horse Regiments currently in Egypt to Gallipoli to fight as infantry. On 4 September, 1915, 23 officers and 413 other ranks of the 13th embarked on the troopship RMS Megantic. They arrived on Mudros four days later and at 1.30am on 11 September, Robert disembarked at Watson’s Pier at ANZAC Cove. While at Gallipoli the 13th Light Horse was at Shrapnel Gully, Lone Pine and Russell’s Top. At Lone Pine, their duties were to hold the trenches. Although they were not involved in large scale actions, similar to those in August, they suffered a number of casualties through constant Turkish shelling.

On the 24 November, 1915, William was admitted to the 6th Field Ambulance at Gallipoli suffering from influenza and conjunctivitis. He was transferred to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station and loaded onto the Hospital Ship Glenart Castle. William was taken to the Island of Malta, arriving there on the 3 December. He was finally admitted to St Paul's Hospital but would remain in Malta for nearly two months.

On the 18 February, 1916, he was transferred to the Overseas Base at Ghezireh, Cairo. One month later he boarded a troopship at Alexandria bound for Marseilles in the south of France and, eventually, the Western Front.

Upon arriving in France he was taken on strength with the 1st ANZAC Mounted Regiment. On 6 June, 1916, he was promoted to Sergeant.

William was given a period of leave from the 15 September, 1917, to the 29 September, 1917, although there is no record of where he spent this.

On 6 March, 1918, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. The citation for this medal reads;

"For gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field.

This NCO was in charge of traffic control posts on MENIN ROAD during the operations in Passchendale-Rouneberke Section in October - November 1917.
Although this sector was subjected to continuous shelling by the enemy Sgt Robertson never failed to visit his posts and attend to the welfare of his men during the heaviest bombardment. He set a fine example to his men by his coolness and devotion to duty under very trying conditions. His conduct has been at all times most exemplary and his conduct of all duties entrusted to him during 3 years service has been very commendable."

On the 12 October, 1918, he was awarded the Military Medal. The citation for this medal reads;

"For conspicuous gallantry in action at BUIRE WOOD on 6th September, 1918. -

Serjeant ROBERTSON was in charge of a van guard patrol maintaining liaison between 42nd Battalion and the 58th Division. He kept constant communication between the flank units moving under continuous machine gun and shell fire. - Later during the day, he went forward and successfully carried out mounted reconnaissance in front of BUIRE WOOD in day light under heavy Machine Gun fire. -"

From the 19 October, 1918, to the 9 November, 1918, he was on leave in England. He rejoined his unit but was then sent back to England on the 15 March, 1919, to prepare for return to Australia and demobilization.

For his service during the war, William was awarded the Military Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He married Henrietta Templeton McErvale (1900 to 1951) in 1924 in Victoria. They had one child during their marriage; Edith Templeton (1925 to 2010).

He served with the CMF (Citizens Military Forces) during World War 2 enlisting at Camperdown, VIC

He died on 30 January, 1974, in Ventnor, Victoria, at the age of 78.

Extract from "Light Horsemen of the Upper Murray", Year 5 and 6 Project, Corryong College.