Robertson, James
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
Regiment: 2/1st Highland Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps
Biography: Son of John Robertson, cooper ; born Aberdeen, 16 October 1880; educated Robert Gordon's College; graduated M.B., 1904 ; M.D., 1908 ; Ch.M. (Hons.), 1909. He studied in Dublin and Berlin and acted as Clinical Assistant, Samaritan Free Hospital, London, winning high recommendation from such eminent authorities as Bumin and Nagel of Berlin, and McCann of the Samaritan Hospital. An appointment as Medical Officer to the Dooars, India, gave him valuable experience, and further increased his reputation by the efficiency with which he dealt with an extensive outbreak of cholera. On his return to Aberdeen he set up in private practice, and was also appointed Senior Assistant Anaesthetist at the Royal Infirmary. When mobilization orders came in 1914, Robertson was a Captain attached to the 2/1st Highland Field Ambulance. In May 1915 he went to France where he rose rapidly in rank, commanded the Ambulance, and was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's Dispatch of Christmas 1917. His death in action near Bapaume on 21 March 1918 cut short a career which had already done credit to his Alma Mater. Gifted with a high intelligence, accompanied by unquenchable enthusiasm and that possession so necessary to the true research worker, imagination, Robertson would have justified the expectations of those who hoped great things of his future career.
Date of Death: 21 March 1918
Burial Details: Buried at Bancourt British Cemetery, Plot 1, Row F, Grave 11.
Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.
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