Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Gordon Highlanders Regimental Award, silver, the reverse hallmarked London 1895 and inscribed ‘S.M. Wm. Robertson Hony Award 1896’, fitted with brooch fitting and replacement pin, good very fine £200-£300

V.C. London Gazette 20 July 1900: Sergeant-Major (now Quartermaster and Honorary Lieutenant) William Robertson, 2nd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders

‘At the Battle of Elandslaagte, on the 21st October, 1899, during the final advance on the enemy’s position, this Warrant Officer led each successive rush, exposing himself fearlessly to the enemy’s artillery and rifle fire to encourage the men. After the main position had been captured, he led a small party to seize the Boer camp. Though exposed to a deadly cross-fire from the enemy’s rifles, he gallantly held on to the position captured, and continued to encourage the men until he was dangerously wounded in two places.’

William Robertson was born on 27 February 1865, at Dumfries, Scotland. He enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders on 1 December 1884, and served in India prior to the outbreak of the Boer War. He was invested with the V.C. by Queen Victoria at Osborne House on 20 August 1900. He was a Senior Recruiting Officer, Scottish Command, during the Great War and retired with the rank of Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1920. He died on 6 December 1949, at Portobello, Edinburgh.