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May 10, 1886
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Born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire,
Scotland to John R. and Amie (nee Simpson) Robertson
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Jul 17, 1914
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Married to Ada Elizabeth Mills
in Welland, Ontario
Occupation given as Riveter
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Jul 27, 1915
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Attested into the 76th
Battalion CEF in Welland, Ontario
Ø Number 141759
Ø Next of kin given
as Mrs. Ada Robertson, wife, 37 Randolph Street, Welland, Ontario
o Later changed to
read Gardenside, Dalgarven, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland
Ø Previous occupation
given as Iron Worker
Ø Previous military
experience given as 44th Regiment, Canadian Militia
Ø Religion given as
Presbyterian
Ø Assigned to the 1st
Regimental Draft
The battalion trained in Camp
Niagara, Ontario
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Sep 30, 1915
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The battalion’s first draft
boarded a train for Toronto to make a connection for travel to Montreal
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Oct 1, 1915
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Embarked the SS Scandinavian
in Montreal, Quebec as part of the battalion’s 1st Draft
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Oct 10, 1915
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Disembarked in Portsmouth, England
and proceeded to West Sandling where the draft was absorbed into the 39th
Reserve Battalion to continue training
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Feb 19, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion
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Feb 21, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian
Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 649
reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st
Battalion
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Mar 12, 1916
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After leaving the base depot,
Private Robertson joined the 21st Battalion in billets in La
Clytte, Belgium
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Apr 15, 1916
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While the battalion was
resting in the “J” Camp, many men were sent out each night on work parties
repairing trenches. On the night of
April 15, Private John Robertson was sent out on such a work party to help in
repairing the P & Q front line trench system near St. Eloi (Sint-Elooi),
Belgium. The work party came under an
enemy artillery barrage and John Robertson received severe wounds to his left
leg, shattering bone and destroying the ankle. He was evacuated to the No. 10 CCS
(Casualty Clearing Station) for first aid
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Apr 16, 1916
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Transferred via the No. 23 AT
(Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in
Boulogne
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Apr 17, 1916
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Surgery performed to amputate
his left leg below the knee
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Apr 28, 1916
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Invalided to England aboard the Hospital
Ship Newhaven
On arrival in England he was admitted
to the St. Georges Hospital, Hyde Park Corner, London
Posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty
Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
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May 9, 1916
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Additional surgery performed
to relieve an abscess in his left buttock
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May 17, 1916
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Surgery performed to his right
buttock to relieve symptoms of an abscess
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Aug 23, 1916
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Surgery performed to amputate
more of his left leg, now 3 inches below the knee
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Sep 12, 1916
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Transferred to the Granville
Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate
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Oct 20, 1916
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Transferred to the King’s
Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Bushey Park
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Dec 5, 1916
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Transferred to the Clarence
House
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Jan 25, 1917
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Transferred to the Shorncliffe
Military Hospital
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Feb 2, 1917
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Transferred to the Cherry
Hinton Hospital in Cambridge
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Mar 11, 1917
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Posted to the EORD (Eastern
Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Apr 22, 1917
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Surgery performed to drain an
abscess in in his left buttock
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Jul 3, 1917
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Transferred to the King’s
Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Bushy Park, Putney.
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Dec 13, 1917
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While out of hospital on a day
pass, Private John Robertson was struck and killed by a motor bus on Richmond
Road, in Putney, London. The motor bus
also struck and killed Private W.F. Hamilton 535993 of the Canadian Army
Medical Corps who had been with John Robertson. Pte. Hamilton was on the staff of the
hospital and was possibly assisting Pte. Robertson while out on pass.
Private John Robertson was
buried in a family plot in the Kilwinning Cemetery, Kilwinning, Ayrshire,
Scotland
Following his death, the
British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and
Memorial Cross were sent to his widow, Mrs. A.E. Colclough (she had
remarried) at 42 McCormick St., Welland, Ontario
A second Memorial Cross was
sent to his mother, Mrs. A. Robertson, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland
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Mar 13, 1918
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Wife Ada and daughter Ada
Margaret embarked the SS Olympic in Liverpool
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Mar 20, 1918
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Disembarked in Halifax, Nova
Scotia and proceeded to Welland, Ontario where she eventually was remarried
to Mr. John Colclough in Welland.
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John Robertson
is honoured on the War Memorial in Kilwinning, Scotland
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