A.J. Robertson Rifleman 10th Bn.

[frans]

Today was one of these days that was special.

At about 2 o'clock this afternoon a car pulled up outside my house and this elderly lady was put in a wheel chair and driven into Essex farm cemetary.

After reading the register one of her familie members asked if I could fill a couple of bottles of water, and of they went, armed with plants and water.

On their return to the car we started talking. The old lady is the sister of A.J.Robertson S/9364 rifleman 10th Bn.. now aged 97. The last time she saw him was 1914. Today was the first time she had ever been to visit, actually it was her first time out of England. They came straight from the boat to ieper and were going back straight away. She knew nothing about what happenend to him except the date he died. All in all a pritty moving experience.

Can anybody tell me anything about him, he died on the 19th february 1916.

Is there a reason why they don't put the age on the gravestone.

Has anybody got any idea what went on here on that date.

With friendly greetings, frans

[gord97138]

Frans:

Thanks for sharing your experience!

What a heartwarming story.

Sounds like she was on an important mission she needed to do.

Did she give you his first name or any other info?

gordon

[j.r.f]

FRANS

All I can add is this .

ANDREW JOHN

RIFLE BRIGADE(THE PRINCE CONSORTS OWN)10 BATTATALION

BORN LIMEHOUSE

ENLISTED SOUTHEND ESSEX

RESIDENCE LIMEHOUSE ESSEX

BURIED 1R3 ESSEX FARM CEMETERY

CHEERS.

JOHN.

[gord97138]

Frans:

Here's from the 1901 census;

Name-Age-Birthplace-Relationship-Civil parish

Andrew J Robertson 10 Limehouse, London, England Son Limehouse London

Andrew K Robertson 34 Forfar, Scotland Head Limehouse London

Jane B Robertson 8 Limehouse, London, England Daughter Limehouse London

John Robertson 63 Forfar, Scotland Father Limehouse London

Margaret Robertson 3 weeks Limehouse, London, England Daughter Limehouse London

Martha Robertson 3 Limehouse, London, England Daughter Limehouse London

Martha M Robertson 34 Limehouse, London, England Wife Limehouse London

Mary Robertson 6 Limehouse, London, England Daughter Limehouse London

Stanley Robertson 1 Limehouse, London, England Son Limehouse London

gordon

[frans]

Thank you all for replying it is very helpfull.

Gordon, I don't have her name, but I am going to recieve a photograph of her visit to the cemetary, I did'nt want to take one because I thought I would intrude.

Because I was gobsmacked, I did not ask her any questions , today I have a hundred.

With friendly greetings, frans

[John Milner]

Frans

From the History of the 20th (Light) Division, "59th Brigade took over the right of the Divisional front on the night of 12/13 Feb 1916, after some delay caused by heavy shelling of Poperinghe and Vlamertinghe."

Also, "Sixteen hundred men of 59th Brigade worked almost every night (on the trenches) and good progress was made during the month. In all parts of the Divisional front shelling continued daily, hampering the working parties and necessitating still more work."

59th Brigade front was from Pratt Street, just NW of Wieltje Farm, to Krupp Farm.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards

John Milner