William Albert Robertson, (6 September 1885 – 26 March 1942) was a Scottish rugby union international, a distinguished doctor and a decorated soldier. He was part of the first official British Isles team that toured South Africa in 1910. Although he played for the Lions, he was never selected to play for Scotland.

Early life

William Albert Robertson was born in Dundee on 6 September 1885. He was educated at the High School of Dundee, University College, Dundee and then at the University of Edinburgh, where he studied medicine, graduating MBChB in 1907, proceeding M.D. in 1926.

Rugby career

Bill Robertson played forward for Edinburgh University RFC. In 1910 he was selected for the first official British tour to South Africa (in that it was sanctioned and selected by the four Home Nations official governing bodies). Robertson was a key part of the mid-week side and played ten times for the Tourists, scoring once in a 17–0 win over Pretoria. However, he was not selected for any of the three Tests.

Career and military career

Robertson became a member of the B.M.A. in 1912. By 1913, Robertson had become honorary surgeon to Hartlepool Hospital and was police surgeon for the Hartlepool district. At the outbreak of the First World War he was appointed medical officer to the Durham R.G.A. and between 1915 and 1918 he served in France with the

50th (Northumbrian) Division The Northumbrian Division was an infantry division of the British Army, formed in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force with units drawn from the north-east of England, notably Northumberland, Durham and the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire ...

. During this time he was

mentioned in despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

and was awarded the Military Cross. In 1918, after the war, he returned to Broughty Ferry, and became a staff member at the

Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee, is a hospital in Dundee, Scotland. It was formerly known as the Victoria Hospital for Incurables. Today, the hospital is primarily dedicated to medicine for the elderly. It is managed by NHS Tayside. History Th ...

. In the interwar years he continued military service and in 1921 he was appointed medical officer in charge of the North Scottish R.G.A., and from 1928 to 1932 commanded the 152nd (Highland) Field Ambulance, T.A. In 1935 he became Assistant Director Medical Services of the

51st (Highland) Division The 51st (Highland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought on the Western Front in France during the First World War from 1915 to 1918. The division was raised in 1908, upon the creation of the Territorial Force, as ...

, T.A.. Robertson rose to the rank of colonel and, in the

1939 New Year Honours The 1939 New Year Honours were appointments by King George VI to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the United Kingdom and British Empire. They were announced on 30 December 1938.United Kingdom and Britis ...

, was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the Territorial Army. In 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War, he was recalled for service and proceeded to France. In May 1940 he was captured, and died while a prisoner of war on 26 March 1942. Casualties in the Medical Services – William Albert Robertson, British Medical Journal, The Services, 25 April 1942, p540
/ref> He is buried in Kraków Rakowicki Cemetery.University of Edinburgh Roll of Honour 1939–1945
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, William Albert 1885 births 1942 deaths Scottish rugby union players Rugby union forwards British & Irish Lions rugby union players from Scotland British Army personnel of World War I People educated at the High School of Dundee Royal Army Medical Corps officers Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Alumni of the University of Dundee Edinburgh University RFC players Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Recipients of the Military Cross Rugby union players from Dundee British Army personnel killed in World War II British Army General List officers Military personnel from Dundee World War II prisoners of war held by Germany British World War II prisoners of war