Death of soldier wounded 8 times
‘Brilliant’Fallin scholar also killed in action
A brave Stirling soldier was killed in action after being wounded no fewer than eight times.
Private John Robertson, a holder of the Distinguished Conduct Medal, was the son of miner Mr Thomas Robertson, 17 St John Street.
The 24-year-old member of the Black Watch joined the Army two years before the start of the war and on the outbreak of hostilities went to France with the British Expeditionary Force.
He took part in the fighting at Mons and was wounded in October, 1914.
After recovering, he returned to the fray and was awarded the DCM for his bravery during the Battle of Loos in September, 1915.
According to the citation, Pte Robertson showed conspicuous gallantry in helping to carry back his machine gun over a considerable distance under heavy rifle fire and bombing.
He and another man were the only members of the gun team left and “frequently came into action to cover the retirement”.
The private was transferred to Mesopotamia and later Palestine where he was killed on June 8, 1918.
Twelve months earlier, Pte Robertson was wounded seriously for the second time and the Observer revealed he had during his war service sustained wounds on eight occasions.
He had also been in hospital several times with fever.
The paper added: “(Pte Robertson) had the distinction of serving on three fronts and had not been home for three and a half years, and no opportunity had presented itself for making him the recipient of the customary gifts from the local heroes’ fund.”
Donations from the fund went to soldiers who had won medals for bravery or distinguished service during the fighting.
Pte Robertson’s father served with the Stirlingshire Territorial Battalion of the A&SH and only a short time earlier received his discharge.
Another of the latest casualties was Pte Malcolm Russell who died of wounds sustained in action. He was severely injured two months earlier and had to have a leg amputated.
It was, said the Observer, hoped that his “youth and vitality” would enable him to overcome the injuries but this proved not to be the case.
Pte Russell was educated at Dunblane Public School and later Fallin Public School, receiving many prizes at the latter.
On leaving school in 1913, he obtained the certificate of merit and silver medal as one of the two most brilliant pupils in his year. At Fallin continuation classes, he had a similarly distinguished career.
In April, 1917, although then “considerably under 18 years of age” he volunteered for active service in the Argylls but was later transferred to the Seaforths.
Before joining the Army, he was employed at Fallin Colliery where his father, Thomas, formerly of Ramoyle, Dunblane, worked in the saw mill
It was hoped his youth and vitality would enable him to overcome the injuries