Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Archibald Edmund ROBERTSON 

Military Cross & Mentioned In Despatches

'On the morning of 5th October 1918, during attack on village of Montbrehain when leading two platoons of his company, he advanced 2,500 yards through strong enemy positions, gained the final objective and dug in under withering fire. When an enemy strong post was encountered in a quarry, this officer led out two  Lewis gun and personally sited them and directed their tactics to cover the advance of the remainder of the men whom he led and captured the post. When consolidating on objective he led out a Lewis Gun team over exposed ground, and placed them in a commanding site to keep down enemy fire. He was severely wounded but carried on and refused to leave his gun for over an hour, until reporting and handing over to his Company Commander on the spot. He showed no regard for his personal safety and set a high standard of courage and devotion to duty.”

Recommendation – Brigadier James Robertson

Commanding the Second Australian Division. 17/10/1918

Mentioned in Despatches September 1917 

For completion of the Dernville Tramway and excellent work at Bullecourt on July 3-6. 

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette                  18 April 1918 on page 843 at position 182.

Archibald Robertson was well known in Bendigo and had been elected President of the Bnedigo branch of the Amalgamated Engine Drivers Association. His prior military experience and qualification no doubt contributed to his commission on enlistment.

The first piece of news from Archibald Roberston was published in the Bendigo Independent in September 1916: -It read, the following letter has been received from England from Lieutenant A. E. Robertson by a friend, of California Gully.

"Here we are again, June ending, still in the land of eternal green, picturesque fields, hedges, glades and avenues; cathedrals and abbeys, quaint villages and rustic lanes, and the mighty London of youthful dreams. London is a vast

place, and teems with points of historic interest. I have had the pleasure of two week-ends there, spending every effort in viewing and enjoying its pleasures. The great drag is the total lack of all Australian mail matter. "So far absolutely not a letter or paper from Australia, and we have been now almost three months on the track. Something is out of joint somewhere. We had Mr. A. Fisher (the late Prime Minister, now High Commissioner) addressing our camp at the first week-end, and Mr. Hughes (Prime Minister of Australia) last Saturday. The latter was a great review, many generals being present……… The weather is wintry most of the time — quite a change-about of season — from 121 degrees in Egypt shade to 35 in England. ' Our summer is winter. Our lads look rough and ready in comparison with the British Tommy, but, of course,' we are only recruits as yet. All were glad to leave Egypt, and the brightest weather has travelled with us, but now we keep the coal fires burning. ………….Now I am ready to say 'shillick' at any time. Great blows are being struck, and I may as well be in the stoush as anyone else……I think I am nearing the slaughter yard (the front), so good-bye for the time."[1]

The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918)  Mon 21 Oct 1918  Page 6 LIEUT. A. E ROBERTSON.

Mrs. Robertson, of Rose, street. California Gully, has received, information the effect that her son Lieut. A. E. Robertson, of the 2nd Pioneers Battalion had been severely wounded in the right arm being admitted into hospital on October 71918. This is the second occasion that he has been hit. In May 1917 during the Australian assault on the Hindenburg Line at

Bullecourt, he was wounded by a piece of shrapnel entering his knee. After recuperating in England and Scotland he returned to the fighting zone early in August of last year. Since then he has been mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatches of November last. He enlisted in July1915. Another brother is serving in the New Zealand forces.

Archibald would be severely wounded at the AIF last battle of WW1, with a ‘Gun Shot Wound’ to the right arm.

SERVICE DETAILS:

Place of Birth: Eaglehawk, Victoria

Religion: Methodist

School: California Gully School, School of Mines Diploma 

Occupation: Mining Engineer

Address: Rose Street, California Gully, Bendigo

Marital status: Single

Age at enlistment: 31

Next of kin: Mother, Mrs Anna Margarita Robertson, Rose Street, California Gully.

Enlistment date: 18 June 1915

Rank on enlistment: 2nd Lieutenant

Unit : 2nd Pioneer Battalion

Fate: Returned to Australia 15 January 1919

On the morning of 5th October 1918, during attack on village of Montbrehain : - The last action involving Australian infantry on the Western Front in the First World War. Following the breaking of the Hindenburg Line, the attack on Montbrehain on 5 October 1918 represented an attempt to breach the final elaborate system of German defences based on the Beaurevoir trench line system. Advancing on the early morning of 5 October the 6th Brigade AIF succeeded in occupying the village and in the process took 400 German prisoners. The action claimed 430 Australian casualties.[2]

[1] The Bendigo Independent (Vic. : 1891 - 1918)  Wed 6 Sep 1916  Page 6WITH THE PIONEERS - CALIFORNIA GULLY OFFICER.

[2] Australian War memorial Website https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84335