Personal info
- Name: James Peter ROBERTSON
- D.O.B: 26th Oct, 1883
- D.O.A: 6th Nov, 1917
- D.O.D: 6th Nov, 1917
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Private, 27th Battalion The Manitoba Regiment (Winnipeg), 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, Canadian Expeditionary Force
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 2
Passchendaele, Belgium 6 November 1917
6 November 1917
The First World War 1917
On 6 November 1917 Allied forces attacked the German positions still holding out on Passchendaele Ridge. 3rd Battalion 1st Central Ontario Regiment formed part of the Canadian 1st Division which attacked west and north-west of the village. Corporal C F Barron, a Lewis gunner with D Company, distinguished himself in the capture of the German stronghold at Vine Cottage. Meanwhile, 27th Battalion The Manitoba Regiment took part in the assault on Passchendaele itself. One machine-gun post in the ruins of the main street held up the advance and caused many casualties until it was knocked out by Private J P Robertson. Later in the day Robertson was killed by a shell while rescuing wounded Canadian soldiers. The Canadian Corps took part in one further attack on the 10th. This marked the final stage of the Third Battle of Ypres.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and outstanding devotion to duty in attack. When his platoon was held up by uncut wire and a machine gun causing many casualties, Pte. Robertson dashed to an opening on the flank, rushed the machine gun and, after a desperate struggle with the crew, killed four and then turned the gun on the remainder, who, overcome by the fierceness of his onslaught, were running towards their own lines. His gallant work enabled the platoon to advance. He inflicted many more casualties among the enemy, and then carrying the captured machine gun, he led his platoon to the final objective. He there selected an excellent position and got the gun into action, firing on the retreating enemy who by this time were quite demoralised by the fire brought to bear on them. During the consolidation Pte. Robertson’s most determined use of the machine gun kept down the fire of the enemy snipers; his courage and his coolness cheered his comrades and inspired them to the finest efforts. Later, when two of our snipers were badly wounded in front of our trench, he went out and carried one of them in under very severe fire. He was killed just as he returned with the second man.