Roll of Honour
Private
William Buchanan Robertson
Student
William Buchanan Robertson was born on the 14th August 1895 in Port of Spain, Trinidad, the son of William and Rosalie Robertson. His father was one of the founders of Smith Robertson, the pharmaceutical company established in 1894 and still trading internationally. William was a first year student in Engineering when the war brought an abrupt end to his studies. He had set off from his home in Port of Spain in July 1915 to begin his course at the University of Glasgow. He enrolled in the classes of Mathematics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry and a Physics Laboratory.
During his short time at Glasgow, from 1915 to 1916, he joined the Officer Training Corps before enlisting in the 9th Bn. Highland Light Infantry as a Private. After a spell of training in which he became notably skilled in musketry he left for the Western Front.
On 16th September 1916, Private William Buchanan Robertson was mortally wounded at High Wood during the Battle of the Somme. He was buried at Contalmaison Chateau cemetery. The village lies to the north east of Albert. It was captured from the Germans on 10th July and used by field ambulances between September 1916 and March 1917 for the interment of some 300 casualties. Private Buchanan was 21. He is commemorated on the Port of Spain Cenotaph and the Wishaw Parish Church Memorial.
Comments and Citations
University of Glasgow Registry and Faculty Records (GUAS Ref: R8/5/36/4).
Burial Place: Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Debt of Hon