A 'Jock's Great War casualty medal pair for the Battle of Arras 1917: Sergeant James William Robson, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, late 4th Gordon Highlanders

- British War Medal. Silver issue (4058 Sgt. J. W. Robson. Gordons.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (4058 Sgt. J. W. Robson. Gordons.)

Wounded-in-Action: S/43232 Sergeant James W. Robson, Gordon Highlanders, confirmed 'Wounded-in-Action' in France & Flanders, in June 1917, by gunshot & shrapnel wound (GSW) to the 'left leg'. See published list of Scottish casualties published in the Scotsman newspaper issue of 23 July 1917

The 'Stonehaven Journal' issue of, 5 July 1917, contained the below following 'Wounds' article:

Quote,

SERGT J. W. ROBSON, NETHERLEY

Information has been received by Mr and Mrs Robson, Mains of Netherley, that their son, Sergt. James W. Robson. of the Gordon Highlanders, has been wounded in the left leg, and has been admitted to hospital at Liverpool. Previous to the war, Sergeant Robson was a diligent student at the Mackie Academy, Stonehaven, and intended to enter the scholastic profession. Sgt. Robson has been at the front some considerable time, and has seen much active service, his promotion having been exceptionally rapid. This is the first time that Sergeant Robson has been wounded.

Unquote.

Battle of Arras: Sergeant Robson was wounded-in-action, during the Battle of Arras, and almost certainly sometime between 14-19 June 1917, during which time 1/Gordons sustained 70 x All-Ranks killed, 160 x wounded & 24 missing (battalion war diary refers)

Medal verification: The Great War campaign medals verified as the recipients full medal entitlement for the Great War per the respective campaign medal roll of the Gordon Highlanders (ref WO 329/1662) that was compiled and signed at, Perth, Scotland, on, 30 July 1921, wherein the recipient is shown as having first entered a theatre of war (France) while serving with 6/Gordons, at which time he held the regimental number 12777. Charles was subsequently re-numbered with regimental number 266643 which he used serving with 6/7th Gordons (an amalgamation of the 1/6th & 1/7th Gordons that took place in October 1918)

James Williamson Robson, son of James Robson (a Coachman) & Margaret 'Maggie' Robson (nee Hadden) was a native of Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, Scotland, where he was born on 19 February 1896. The 1901 Nataional Census for Scotland shows James, described as a 'Scholar', living with his parents, and younger siblings, sister Anna Eliza Robson (b. 1898) & brother, William A. Robson (b. 1900), at their residence located at 35, High Street, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire, Scotland. Prior to the Great War James was an accomplished scholar at Mackie Academy located in Stonehaven, the local newspapers of the era 1911-1913, testifying to his numerous certificates and accomplishments. James enlisted in the British Army on 14 June 1915, and was posted to the war raised 3/4th Battalion of his local regiment the Gordon Highlanders, at which time he was given the regimental number 4058. After completion of his basic training, James was re-posted and first entered theatre of war, France & Flanders, sometime after 31 December 1915. While serving with the Gordons in the British Expeditionary Force, James was re-numbered S/43232. He was serving with 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, when he was 'wounded-in-action', at Arras, in June 1917, with GSW to the left-leg. His wounds being of such a serious nature, that he was evacuated to Liverpool, England, where he arrived sometime prior to 5 July 1917. Sergeant Robson took his discharge from the British Army, on 21 February 1918 - as a consequence of his wounds & being found to be no longer fit for military service. After leaving the British Army, James remained in Liverpool, where in 1923, he married a widow, Elizabeth Louisa Agnew (she died at Woodend Hospital Aberdeen Scotland, on, 23 May 1942) and had a career as a Clerk in Accountancy & Finance. The 1939 National Census for England & Wales, records James & his wife living at 'Bon Accord', 20 Dunbabin Road, Liverpool, at which time he was also recorded as a 'Warden' in the local Air Raid Precuation (ARP). James married secondly at Liverpool, England, in 1945, when he wed Elizabeth Munro Adam. James Williamson Robson died at Liverpool, on, 16 November 1964

Sold together with some hard-copy research

Condition: About EF

Code: 22014