John Peter Robertson ["Tales of the V.C."], item 2

• January 17, 2018 22:44:40 Thomas A. Lingner

  TALES OF THE V. C.

  Pte. John Peter Robertson.

  Canadian Infantry

  
  

    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, 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. Pte. Robertson 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.

  
  

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