John Peter Robertson ["Tales of the V.C."], item 3

• January 17, 2018 22:51:23 Thomas A. Lingner

  Several of them fell victims to their own weapon, and others

  were caught by our shells.

  When the remainder of the platoon arrived on the scene, Pte.

  Robertson was still firing the captured gun.

  It was entirely due to his heroic action that the whole line was

  enabled to advance and capture their final objective. Pte.

  Robertson went forward with the first wave, taking the gun with

  him, and used it very effectively to keep down the

  fire of German machine guns and snipers, while his platoon

  were consolidating the new position.

  Later in the day, when two of our snipers, who had ventured out

  in front of our lines, were wounded, Pte. Robertson volunteered to

  bring them in. He went out into the open, although he was

  exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, lifted one man on

  his back, and carried him in safety to the trench. He immediately

  returned for the second man. But he had tempted fortune once

  too often. He staggered back with his unconscious burden, with

  bullets whistling all around him. But, as if a cruel fate was

  waiting until the last possible moment to overtake

  him, he was killed on the very parapet of the trench, his

  mission almost accomplished. His splendidly heroic end, like the

  dashing work he had done earlier in the day, had a most inspiring

  effect upon all ranks in his unit.

  
  

  
  

  
  

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