Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Lot 4832    SESSION 18 (2.30PM FRIDAY 29TH JULY)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Australian Groups

Estimate $50,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $45,000

FAMILY GROUP: (Brother 1) Group of Seven to Senior Officer WIA at Gallipoli: Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (Military); Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George; Distinguished Service Order (KC); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19 (MIDx7); Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer's Decoration. The first three medals unnamed as issued, Major. J.C.Robertson. 10/Bn. A.I.F. on fourth medal, T/Brig Gen. J.C.Robertson. A.I.F. on fifth medal, T-Brig-General. J.C.Robertson. A.I.F. on sixth medal, Brig. Gen. J.C.Robertson 7th Inf. Bde. 31.5.23. on last medal. The last medal engraved, all other named medals impressed.; (Brother 2) Pair to DOW at Gallipoli: 1914-15 Star; Victory Medal 1914-19. 378 Pte G.H.Robertson 2/L.H. Regt A.I.F. on first medal, 378 Pte G.H.Robertson. 2 L.H.R. A.I.F. on second medal, also WWI Memorial Plaque named to Gordon Holmes Robertson. The first group display mounted and very fine, the second group unmounted and very fine, all stored in a large fold-over satchel (32x45cm) containing various other related items.

Together with a matching set of unmounted miniatures for first group, the orders in 18ct gold and enamel; two signet rings in 18ct gold and bearing the Robertson family crest; Army Officer's hat by maker Philip Joseph, Melbourne, fitted with General Staff Officer oxidised bronze hat badge (KC); Queensland Mounted Infantry hat badge (QVC) (Grebert p214); 24 Queensland Mounted Infantry hat badge (KC) 1900-30 (Cossum 65); General Staff Officer hat badge (KC) 1900-30 (Cossum 155); 25 Darling Downs Infantry hat badge 1930-42 (Cossum p19d); 25 Darling Downs Infantry collar badge 1930-42 (Cossum p19d); 11 Light Horse Regiment (Darling Downs) collar badge 1930-42 (Cossum p8b); metal title for Australia in brass (2), Aust Light Horse, QMI, 14/ALH/QMI; General Staff Officer metal shoulder badge, collar badge and collar gorgets (2); A (Anzac) metal badge; Anzac Onward badge (KC) in silvered and enamel; General Staff buttons 1912-48(4, two large, two small) (Cossum p38b) ; original School of Instruction certificate to Captain J.C.Robertson 18/3/13; Letter of Introduction from Minister of External Affairs dated 1 Feb 1910 for visit to New Zealand and South America by Captain J.C.Robertson accompanied by his brother; Gen Birdwood's autograph on an Australian Comforts Fund card.

Also included is a book titled The War Diary of Brigadier James Campbell Robertson CB CMG DSO VD, hardcover 268pp. This book was printed in 2019 with a grant from the Centenary Committee with approximately 100 soft cover copies and 2-3 hardcover copies issued.

CMG: Original Certificate for award of CMG to Lt-Col James Campbell Robertson together with original booklet, The Statutes of The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. Awarded 10 October 1915. LG 5/11/1915.

DSO: Original Certificate for the award of the Distinguished Order to Col (Temp Brig-Gen) J.C.Robertson CMG together with original booklet, The Statutes of the Distinguished Service Order. Awarded 1 June 1917. Sixth Supplement to LG 1/6/1917; CAG No.169 4/10/1917 - 'reward for distinguished service in the Field'.

CB: Original Certificate for the award of the CB (Mil Div) to Col (temp Brig Gen) James Campbell Robertson CMG, DSO together with original booklet, Statutes of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath 1925. Awarded 1 June 1919. Fifth Supplement to LG 3/6/1917; CAG No.109 15/9/1919 - 'for valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in France and Flanders'.

Awarded MID (7 times).
Supplement to LG 5/11/1915; Military Order No.44 of 1916.
Second Supplement to LG 2/1/1917; CAG No.103 29/6/1917.
Second Supplement to LG 1/6/1917; CAG No.169 4/10/1917.
Second Supplement to LG 25/12/1917; CAG No.57 18/4/1918.
Fourth Supplement to LG 28/5/1918; CAG No.165 24/10/1918.
Fifth Supplement to LG 27/12/1918; CAG No.61 23/5/1919.
Eighth Supplement to LG 11/7/1919; CAG No.124 30/10/1919.

CAFD: CAG No.37 31/5/1923 to Col. (Hon Brig. Gen.) J.C.Robertson CB, CMG, DSO, 7th Infy bde, 1st MD.

James Campbell Robertson, freeholder, age 35, born at Toowoomba, Qld; applied for a commission in AIF 16Aug1914 while an officer in AMF (14LH commissioned service 28Aug1903 to 31Jan1910; Area Officer 01Nov1910 to 06Jul1912; CO of 11Infy 06Jul1912 to date); Emb.24Sep1914; 25Apr1915 landed with covering force of 3Bde at Anzac, Gallipoli and WIA at Gaba Tepe GSW arm (in the history of the 9th Battalion, 'Campaigning With The Fighting 9th' by C.M.Wrench, Brisbane, Boolarong, 1985, the author writes, 'The first man ashore on the peninsular was Lt Chapman of the 9th followed closely by Colonel Lee, Major Robertson, Major Salisbury, Captain Ryder, Dr Butler and men from the leading boat'); returned to Gallipoli 30May1915 and appt'd Command 9Infy Bn; promoted Lt-Col 01Jun1915;active ops Knifeboard Trenches 28Jun1915; supported attack 11Bn at Leanes Trench 31Jul1915; to hospital 09Sep1915 with enteric; OC troops 'Argylshire' Alexandria to Lemnos 13Nov1915; rejoined 9 Infy Bn and took command 24Nov1915; appt'd Temp CO 3 Infy Bde till 01Jan1916; 27Jan1916 Canal Defences East of Serapeum till 08Mar1916; to France 26Mar1916; defensive ops Petillion Sector 20Apr1916; defensive ops Levante Sector 19May to 20Jun1916; successful raid enemy trenches 01Jul1916; heavy active ops Pozieres 22-26Jul1916; defensive ops Moquet Farm 19-22Aug1916; defensive ops Ypres Sector 12Sep to 08Oct1916; defensive ops Flers (Somme) 09-18Nov1916; appt'd to command 12 Infy Bde 19Nov1916; promoted to Colonel and Temp Brig-Gen 01Dec1916; defensive ops Guidecourt Sector including 3 successive and successful attacks on Stormy Trench 07Jan1917; thrown from horse, sprained ankle CCS for fortnight 24Mar1917; active ops Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt 11Apr 1917; active ops Messines 13Jun1917; defensive ops Ploegsteert Wood 29Jun1917; defensive ops Wytschaete Sector 07-22Aug1917; defensive ops Ypres Sector 25-30 Sep1917; active ops Passchendaele Sector 09-14Oct and again 19-20Oct1917; temporarily in command 4 Aust Div 04-14Nov1917; 2 months leave granted 25Nov1917; sailed from Sydney as OC troops H.M.T.Runic 21Mar1918; appt'd Director of Training, AIF Depots in UK 04Jun1918; appt'd to command 6 Infy Bde 18Jul1918; defensive and minor active ops Villiers-Brettoneaux 20Jul1918; active ops Villiers-Brettoneaux 08Aug1918; active ops Herleville 12-19Aug1918; advance south of Somme 27Aug1918; active ops and capture Mt St Quentin 01Sep1918; active ops and capture Mont Brehain 03Oct1918; temporarily in command 2 Aust Div 08Oct to 01Dec1918 and again 08Mar to 01Apr1919; appt'd to command No 2 Australian Concentration Depot, Sutton Veny 02Apr1919; temporary commanded AIF Depots in UK 19Jun to 08Jul1919; RTA 02Jan1920; Appt Terminated 02Mar1920; Died at his home in Toowoomba, Qld 22Jan1951 and was buried the following day at Toowoomba Cemetery; three streets in Toowoomba are named in his honour, James Street, Campbell Street and Robertson Street; a portrait painting by Sir John Longstaff of Brig-Gen Robertson is in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Brother: Gordon Holmes Robertson, grazier, age 29, born at Toowoomba, Qld; Enl.19Aug1914 at Toowoomba, Qld in 2ALH Regt; Emb.24Sep1914; to Gallipoli 09May1915; WIA GSW abdomen at Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli and DOW 13May1915; buried at sea 3 miles off Gallipoli 14May1915 by chaplain of HMS London.

The following tribute was published in Brig-Gen Robertson's home state newspaper, the Warwick Daily News on Tuesday 23 January 1951, page 3.

Brig.-Gen. J. C. Robertson Dead
TOOWOOMBA: Brigadier-General James Campbell Robertson, distinguished soldier and company director and for a lifetime associated with the progress of Toowoomba, died at his home, Fairholme Street, early yesterday morning. He was born in Toowoomba on October 24, 1878, being a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Robertson. After attending the Toowoomba North State School and the Toowoomba Grammar School he was associated with his father in the printing business of J. H. Robertson and Co., Ruthven Street. Early in life he took an active interest in military affairs, and obtained his commission in the 14th Australian Light Horse when he was in his twenties.

Brigadier-General Robertson was married in 1911 to Ada Elizabeth Godsall, eldest daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. R. Godsall. His wife died in 1942. There were two sons, Major A. C. Robertson, and Ian, who died when eight years old. He is survived by three sisters, Mrs. R. G. Wonderley, Campbell Street, Toowoomba, Mrs. W. Mole (Southport) and Miss Jessie Robertson (Toowoomba), who patiently nursed him in his illness. The late general's brother, Gordon Robertson, was killed, at Gallipoli.

Three days after the declaration of World War I Brigadier-General Robertson left Toowoomba in charge of a contingent of volunteers, and with the rank of major took up the position of second in command of the Ninth Battalion, A.I.F. He was at the landing at Gallipoli, was wounded there, and was invalided to Lemnos. He returned to Gallipoli and was present at the evacuation. He subsequently was transferred to the command of the 12th Brigade, A.I.F., and took part in many big engagements on the Somme. It was at the battle of Mont St. Quentin in August, 1918, that Brigadier-General Robertson gained added distinction. After World War I he was appointed to take charge of the demobilisation of Australian forces aboard. On his return to Australia he was made an honorary colonel of the 25th Battalion Darling Downs Regiment, of which his son, Major A. C. Robertson, is at present second in command.

He was 37 years associated with the Darling Downs Building Society, and at one period was secretary of the Toowoomba Permanent Building Society. He was chairman of trustees of the Toowoomba Grammar School for a number of years. He was first appointed a director of the Toowoomba Gas and Coke Co. in 1914, and became chairman of directors in 1921, a position which he held at the time of his death. He was also closely associated with the Royal Agricultural Society, Legacy Club, R.S.S.A.I.L.A., Chamber of Commerce, Toowoomba Golf Club and several other local organisations. At one time he represented Queensland at polo. He was also a keen golfer.

Together with a very large volume of research and numerous photographs.