Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A C.B., D.S.O. mounted group of twelve miniature dress medals attributed to Colonel C. M. Robertson, Royal Artillery and the Royal Company of Archers

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Civil) Companion’s badge, silver-gilt; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves; Coronation 1902, silver; Coronation 1911; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., with integral top riband bar; France, Third Republic, Croix de Guerre, bronze, reverse dated 1914-1918, with silver star emblem on riband, mounted court-style, good very fine (12) £100-£140

Colin MacLeod Robertson was born in 1870 and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Argyle and Bute Royal Garrison Artillery Volunteers in September 1893. Promoted Lieutenant in 1895 and Captain in 1897, on the disbanding of the Argyle and Bute R.G.A., consequent on the inauguration of the Territorial Force, he was transferred to the Bute Battery, 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade, R.G.A. (T.), being promoted Major to command that battery on 1 April 1908. In November 1912 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel on being given command of the brigade. He was awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1913.

Robertson participated in the London Summer Olympic Games of 1908 winning a Silver Medal in Sailing (12 meter class) on board “Mouchette”. On the outbreak of war he mobilized with his brigade into the 29th Division and remained in Bedford training until the Division was ordered to the front. The 29th Division was sent to Gallipoli but Robertson, and a small draft from 4th Highland Brigade, was transferred to form the 51st DAC in 1915. He went to France with the Division in April 1915 in command of the DAC. He served with the Division during its whole period of active service, being the only combatant commanding officer to do so, and finally returned home in command of the cadre of the Division in April 1919. For his services during the Great War he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 1 January 1918), ‘for over two years in command of a divisional ammunition column’, was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 1 January 1916 and 14 December 1917), and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre.

A Member of the Royal Company of Archers, Robertson qualified for the Coronation and Jubilee medals with the Royal Company of Archers. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Civil Division) in the 1929 Birthday Honours’ List for his efforts and interest in the Territorial Force and as Chairman of the County of Bute Territorial Association. During the Second World War he was principal trustee of the 51st Division fund.

In later life Robertson was leader of the Clan Donnachaidh. He died in 1951.