John Peter Robertson ["Tales of the V.C."], item 4

• January 17, 2018 22:35:30 Thomas A. Lingner

  TALES OF THE V. C.
  

  Pte. John Peter Robertson. Canadian Infantry

  (By Lieut. J.P. Lloyd.)

  
  

    Pte. John Peter Robertson, of the Canadian Infantry,

  was awarded the V.C., for the magnificent courage and resource

  which he displayed near Passchendaele on the 6th of November 1917.

  During the course of an attack by his battalion, his platoon

  was held up by some uncut wire, when they had advanced to within

  200 yards of their final objective.

    While our guns were still employed in cutting a way

  through this obstacle, a German machine gun opened fire from

  the other side of it, and inflicted very heavy losses upon the

  platoon.

    Pte. Robertson, without waiting for orders and

  entirely on his own initiative, started off towards the gun.

  In addition to a withering fire from the machine gun, our artillery

  barrage was so intense, that it seemed almost certain death to 

  attempt to move. That he would reach the gun seemed impossible.

  But in fact this gallant soldier worked his way to a flank,

  and eventually found an opening in the wire. He made his

  way through, and crawled on until his was in rear of the

  emplacement.

    Rising suddenly to his feet, he charged down upon the 

  astonished Germans. Before they could recover from their

  surprise, he had killed four of the crew. The remainder

  fled in terror, but their flight was soon cut short.

  Pte. Robertson seized the abandoned gun, slewed it round, and

  poured a hail of bullets upon the backs of the fast disappearing

  enemy. Several of them fell victims to their own weapon, and

  others were caught by our shells.

  When

  
  

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