A 'Superb' & rare to 'Railway' unit - Peterhead 'Blue Tooner's' Gallantry & 'Casualty' group of 4: Private William James Robson, M.M., 51st Broad Gauge Operating Company Royal Engineers, late 5th (Buchan & Formartin) Battalion Gordon Highlanders

MM awarded in the very first of list of Military Medal recipients to be published in the London Gazette

- Military Medal. GV (2745 Pte. W. J. Robson. 1/5 Gord: Hdrs - T.F.)
- 1914-15 Star (2745 Pte. W. J. Robson, Gord. Highrs.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (2745 Pte. W. J. Robson, Gord. Highrs.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (58807 Dvr. W. Tinw**th. R.A.)

Note: The Victory Medal only in the group is another soldier's original medal, with minor rubbing to naming. This the medal of 58807 Driver William Tinworth, Royal Artillery

As reported in the M.M. recipient's own words, and published in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal issue of, 5 May 1916:

Quote,

PETERHEAD GORDONS HEROIC DEED

Saved Fourteen Lives

Mr. Walter Robson, railway carter, 13 Backgate, Peterhead, has been notified that his son, Private Walter Robson of the Gordons, had been made a recipient of the Military Cross (sic) for bravery in the field. In a letter to his parents Private Robson says:-

"I was the means of saving 14 men. I saw about 20 Germans trying to kill some of our chaps, who were crying out for help; and when the Huns saw the sergeant and I coming down the trenches with bombs they took to their heels and ran. Some of them left their rifles, and I have got one and will send it home".

Unquote.

Walter had originally been recommended by his Commanding Officer for a Distinguished Conduct Medal, but the award was downgraded for award of one of the newly instituted 'Military Medals'. The original recommendation for Walter's proposed DCM is contained in the 5/Gordons battalion war diary - together with a recommendation for the Victoria Cross (2275 Sergeant Charles Dickie referred to in Walter's own words quoted above) and another DCM recommendation for a third soldier, 1592 Pte. J. Buchan. In the event all 3 x soldiers, received awards of the newly created Military Medal (Sergeant Dickie & Private Robson's awards were published in the London Gazette issue of 3 November 1916, while Private Buchan's award was published in the London Gazette issue of 10 November 1916. Most interestingly, Walter was requested to provide documentary evidence in support of Sergeant Dickie's Victoria Cross recommendation (Sergeant Charles Dickie had already earlier been awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his gallantry in 1915)

The official recommendation for Walter's 'downgraded' DCM - taken form the 5/Gordon's battalion war diary, is quoted below:

Quote,

2745 Pte W J Robson. For distinguished conduct on the night 25th / 26th March 1916, on the explosion of an enemy mine beneath his companies trenches. He carried out his orders to consolidate the position with great courage under heavy fire, and brought back a wounded man from an exposed position to a place of safety. He also brought back Capt Robertson, whom he found unconscious in the crater, and was also most useful in bandaging the wounded

Unquote.

Patriotic Family & Wounded-in-Action: Walter Robson is confirmed having been Wounded-in-the-Face by gunshot and shrapnel wound (GSW) in 1916, as reported in the Buchan Observer & East Aberdeenshire Advertiser issue of 8 August 1916, which is quoted below:

Quote,

Mr. Walter Ronson, carter, Backgate, was notified yesterday that his son, Pte. W. Robson, Gordons, has died of wounds on 28th July. He was carried out of the trenches by his brother, Private Walter Robson, who a few months ago was awarded a Military Medal for conspicuous bravery on the field). Walter has been wounded on the face by shrapnel. William was only 19 years, and in civil life a carter with Messrs James Reid & Sons. He joined the Gordons shortly after the outbreak of war.

Unquote.

Died in France: Sapper Walter James Robson, 51st Broad Gauge Operating Company Royal Engineers, late 5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, is confirmed having died from 'Spanish Influenza' at the 30th General Hospital, in France on, 26 October 1918. After his death, his personal effects and pay, were sent to his widow Ivy Robson, who resided at, 44 Whapload Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England

The body of Sapper Walter James Robson M.M., lies buried in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Les Baraques Military Cemetery at Sangatte, located at Pas de Calais, France, where his life and supreme sacrifice is remembered with honour, and perpetuated for posterity

Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte: In April 1915, No.6 Base Supply Depot was started at Calais to help relieve the pressure on Boulogne and to provide a base nearer to the front than Havre or Rouen. The base remained open until the last Commonwealth forces left France in March 1921. The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital and No.10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were also stationed in the town providing about 2,500 beds. For three years, Commonwealth burials were made in Calais Southern Cemetery, but it later became necessary to start a new site and in September 1917, the first burials took place at Les Baraques. The cemetery continued in use until 1921. The cemetery now contains 1,303 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, together with more than 250 war graves of other nationalities, all but 2 of them German. The cemetery also contains seven Second World War burials. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker

Medals verification: The Military Medal and all the Great War medals verified as issued per the respective London Gazette & medal rolls of the Royal Engineers, as under:

a). Military Medal: Reference London Gazette issue of 3 June 1916, an award in the very first list of Military Medal recipients

b). 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2598 (Royal Engineers 'Transportation' roll, entered 'France' 2 May 1915, No 2745 Gordons)

c). British War Medal. Silver issue: Ref WO 329/554 (on roll of Royal Engineers 'Railways', shows prior service with 5/Gordons)

d). Interallied Victory Medals: Ref WO 329/554 (on roll of Royal Engineers 'Railways', shows prior service with 5/Gordons)

Note: The 5th (Service) Battalion Gordon Highlanders, first entered theatre of war, France, on, 2 May 1915, with the battalion disembarking at, Boulogne, France, on 3 May 1915

Walter James Robson, eldest son of Walter Robson (Railway carter) and Jane Robson (nee Forbes) was a native of Longside, nr Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born circa 1893. By the time of the 1901 National Census for Scotland, the family were residents of Peterhead, where Walter is recorded living with his parents and 4 x siblings comprising elder sister Ann Robson, younger sister Bella Jane Robson and 2 x younger brothers viz; Alexander & William Robson located at 16c Wallace Street, Peterhead, Scotland. Prior to the Great War, Walter James Robson - now working like his father before him - as a 'Carter', was working for Mr James Sutherland of Victoria Stables, Peterhead and plying his trade between Peterhead and Lowestof. It was at, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, where on, 3 November 1913, Walter got maried to, Ivy Agnes Garrod. Shortly, after the outbreak of the Great War, Walter, followed his younger brother, as a volunteer into the local infantry battalion, when circa during the winter of 1914/15, he joined the 5th (Buchan & Formatin) Battalion Gordon Highlanders (Territorial Force), and was allocated the regimental number 2745. William's brother - who had enlisted earlier in the same battalion, in the autumn of 1914 - was given the regimental number '2266'. Walter first landed in theatre of war 'France' on, 3 May 1915, on which date 5/Gordons disembarked at the French port of Boulogne. Evidently a soldier of considerable courage, who saw plenty of fighting, as evidenced by the gallantry award, and being wounded. Presumably, it was due to his wounds (shrapnel to face), that he was subsequently transferred to the Royal Engineers 'Transportation'. On transfer to the Royal Engineers he was allocated the regimental number WR/17594. Probably due to his pre-war trade as a 'Carter', he was allocated to the 'RE Railways', and is confirmed serving with the 51st Broad Gauge Operating Company, Royal Engineers (this was the only RE Railway Operating Division 'BGO' company allocated to serve under 5th Army Command), at the time of his death due to 'Influenza' in France, on, 26 October 1918

Important: An excessively rare casualty to unit - only two soldiers are recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, to have died in the Great War serving with 51st Broad Gauge Operating Company, Royal Engineers!

The medals mounted in the swing style, suspended from original silk ribands. The mounting brooch retaining its long-hinged pin and clasp fittings

Sold together with some hard-copy photocopied research

An outstanding Gordon Highlanders regimental Great War Military Medal for bravery group to a 'Jock', whose personal evidence was used in a documented 'Victoria Cross' recommendation, was 'Wounded-in-the-Face' by shrapnel, and who later paid the supreme sacrifice

Condition: Mostly GVF

Code: 22638