An early award of the Military Medal and later Western Front casualty group awarded to Private W.J. Robson, 1st/5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders – Territorial Force who saw service on the Western Front from 2nd May 1915 and would be awarded the newly instituted Military Medal in the London Gazette of 3rd June 1916, a downgraded Distinguished Conduct Medal recommendation for driving off 20 Germans with bombs along with his Sergeant and for bringing back a wounded man and a wounded officer on the night of 25th/26th March 1916. At the top of the list of recommendations in the Battalion War Diary for March 1916 is a Victoria Cross recommendation to Sergeant C. Dickie of the Battalion for his gallantry in the same action. Later wounded in the face by shrapnel on 27th July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, he would be transferred to the 51st Broad Guage Operating Company, Royal Engineers upon his recovery, and later died from Influenza on 26th October 1918, one of just two wartime casualties to the unit.
Group of 4: Military Medal, GVR; (2745 PTE. W.J. ROBSON. 1/5 GORD:HDRS.- T.F.) 1914-1915 Star; (2745 PTE. W.J. ROBSON. GORD. HIGHRS.) British War Medal;(2745 PTE. W.J. ROBSON. GORDONS.) Victory Medal, naming neatly erased. mounted loose for wear.
Condition: Good Very Fine
Walter J. Robson from Peterhead saw service as a Private (No. 2745) with the 1/5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders – Territorial Force on the Western Front from 2nd May 1915 and later served with the Sapper (No. 175924, No. WR/240766 and No. 403988). He would be awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette on 3rd June 1916, the first gazette for this newly created award.
A brief article would appear in the Aberdeen Weekly Journal on 5th May 1916, headlined ‘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.’
Robson had been originally 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 and reads:
'For distinguished conduct on the night 25/26th March 1916, on the explosion of an enemy mine beneath his company's 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 managing the wounded.'
At the top of the list of recommendations for awards in the War Diary of the 1st/5th Gordon Highlanders for March 1916 in which Robson appears is Sergeant C. Dickie, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross as a result of his actions, in the same event, the recommendation reading:
'on the night of 25th/26th March 1916 on the explosion of an enemy mine beneath our trenches, this N.C.O. displayed great courage and coolness under an intense bombardment, and did most valuable work in consolidating the position. Under extremely heavy fire, in circumstances of special difficulty, at great personal risk, he succeeded in bringing back a wounded man from the bottom of the crater. I have previously recommended this N.C.O. for distinguished conduct in the field.'
He would be wounded in the face by shrapnel on 27th July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Subsequently, after recovery, he would be posted to the 51st Broad Guage Operating Company, Royal Engineers. One of only two casualties in the entire war to this small unit, Robson died of Influenza on 26th October 1918 and is now buried in Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte. He is noted as the husband of J.A. Robson of 44 Whapload Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk
