The following 22 lots descend from the estate of Lieutenant-...

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The following 22 lots descend from the estate of Lieutenant-Colonel William Robertson VC CBE (27 Feb 1865 – 6 Dec 1949) of the Gordon Highlanders.
Robertson was born in Dumfries in 1865. He is buried at Portobello Cemetery. 

The following has been taken from Scottish Office Press Notice 221/72: "Col Robertson won his Victoria Cross at the Battle of Elandeslaagte, while a Sergeant Major. He led successive rushes fearlessly to encourage his men in the face of enemy artillery and rifle fire. After the main position had been captured he led a small party to seize the Boer camp. Although exposed to cross-fire he held the captured position gallantly and continued to encourage the men until he was wounded in two places. Brigadier Ian Hamilton (later General Sir Ian Hamilton) saw the second part of the action and said:- "No better Victoria Cross was ever won than William Robertson's." The Victoria Cross has been presented to the Museum in accordance with the wishes of the Colonel's daughter, the late Miss W M Robertson, that the Cross and the Medals should be preserved and displayed in the Museum at the Castle. William Robertson was commissioned in 1900 and during the first world war was Recruiting Staff Officer in Edinburgh with the rank of Lt Colonel. In 1917 he received the OBE and he was created CBE in 1946. He was a Freeman of Dumfries and became Chevalier of the French Legion of Honour in 1935. Colonel Robertson was Vice-President of Lady Haig's Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, and Vice-President of the British Legion (Scotland). His home was in Portobello and after a long and distinguished career, starting as a private soldier, he died in 1949. The Museum has also placed on exhibition the Military Cross and medals of his son Hector, awarded during the 1st World war."

A further account of his actions is published in the London Gazette 27212 20th July 1900 p4509, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27212/page/4509 

The full size medals of Lieutenant-Colonel William Robertson VC were donated to The Scottish United Services Museum at Edinburgh Castle in 1971. They are described in a letter from the museum detailing what they received as follows "Medals received / Lieut Col W Roberston / VC / CBE / OBE / Queen Victoria's South African Medal / King Edward's South Africa Medal / Coronation Medal King George V / Coronation Medal King George VI / Defence Medal 1939-45 / Special Constabulary Medal / Legion of Honour with Miniature / Presentation Broadsword with Basket & Cross Hilts / 2nd Lieut H E Robertson - / MC / War Medal 1914-18 / Victory Medal 1914-1919 / 2nd Lieut I G Robertson - / War Medal 1914-1918 / Victory Medal 1914-19 / Capt W J Robertson - / War Medal 1914-15 / War Medal 1914-18 / Victory Medal 1914-19 / 1939-45 Star / Burma Star / Defence Medal 1939-45 / Victory Medal 1939-45 / Coronation Medal Queen Elizabeth II", the letter is signed and dated 29th April 1971.
Furthermore, he was presented with a casket commemorating his awarding of the Freedom of the Royal Burgh of Dumfries, this casket was donated to the Dumfries museum in 1983. 

Colonel William Robertson VC OBE JP is illustrated in Tom Curr's Modern Athenians 1944, page 60 and is commemorated in the verse "Elandslaagte o' long ago / Where Gordons fought and died / And heroes left and right lay low / And carnage multiplied / Among the bravest of the brave / Was Robertson VC / The cross he wears - the Queen she gave / For all the world to see / He wears it yet - among us all / He served his comrades then / He serves them still - whate'er befall / He serves his fellow men." by Sir William Y Darling.

Some of the following articles may pertain to family members including Hector Robertson, Ian Gordon Robertson or William J Robertson (1892-1964).