Charles Graham Robertson
| Charles Graham Robertson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
4 July 1879 Penrith, Cumberland |
| Died |
10 May 1954 (aged 74) Dorking, Surrey |
| Buried at | Dorking Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit |
Imperial Yeomanry The Royal Fusiliers |
| Battles/wars |
Second Boer War World War I World War II |
| Awards |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} Victoria CrossMilitary Medal |
Charles Graham Robertson VC MM (4 July 1879 – 10 May 1954) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Robertson first served with the Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War. Robertson was 38 years old, and a lance-corporal in the 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers,[1] British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 8/9 March 1918 west of Polderhoek Chateau, Belgium, Lance-Corporal Robertson having repelled a strong attack by the enemy, realised that he was being cut off and sent for reinforcements, while remaining at his post with only one man, firing his Lewis gun and killing large numbers of the enemy. No reinforcements arrived, so he withdrew, and then was forced to withdraw again to a defended post where he got on top of the parapet with a comrade, mounted his gun and continued firing. His comrade was almost immediately killed and he was severely wounded, but managed to crawl back with his gun, having exhausted his ammunition.[2]
He served in World War II in the Home Guard.[3]
The Medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Fusiliers Museum in the Tower of London, England. This and his other medals were presented to the museum by his widow in 1977.[4]
References
- ↑ Kelleher, JP (2010). "The Royal Fusiliers Recipients of The Victoria Cross for Valour" (PDF).
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30619. p. 4297. 5 April 1918. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ↑ Royal Fusiliers Recipients of the Victoria Cross
- ↑ Great Eastern Journal 146, April 2011.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Surrey)