People Australia

Douglas Hamilton Robertson, c. 1915, photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

DOUGLAS HAMILTON ROBERTSON was born on 20th September, 1895, at Tamworth, New South Wales, his mother being Mrs. Muriel Constance Robertson, matron at Wentworth Falls. He was educated at All Saints College, Bathurst, and joined the Bank’s staff at Tamworth in March, 1913.

Douglas Robertson enlisted in the A.I.F. on 7th September, 1915, and served in France with the 4th Battalion, being promoted to lieutenant on 1st May, 1917. He was on active service until the end of the war, and for his gallantry and devotion to duty received congratulations from General Rawlinson, and was awarded the Military Cross. In April, 1919, General Birdwood wrote to Lieutenant Robertson as follows:

“Dear Robertson,

I send you my heartiest congratulations on the Military Cross, which I am so pleased to see has been awarded to you for your conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in our operations near Hargicourt on 18th September last.

“At one stage of the attack your platoon was held up by a machine-gun post. With the assistance of one man only you pushed forward and rushed this post, which you found to be held by 15 Germans. You yourself shot four of the enemy and put the machine-gun out of action, when the remainder of the garrison surrendered to you. “Later you were responsible for the capture of three other machine-guns and a number of prisoners. Throughout these operations you displayed untiring energy and good leadership and set a splendid example to your men.

“With kind regards and good wishes for the future,

Yours sincerely,
W. R. Birdwood.”