Canadian Coast Guard Ship Private Robertson V.C.
Municipality/Province: Burlington, ON
Memorial number: 35095-018
Type: Vessel - patrol
Address: 867 Lakeshore Road
Location: Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW)
GPS coordinates: Lat: 43.30036 Long: -79.80348
Submitted by: Richard Turcotte
Photo credit: Richard Turcotte
Starting its active service in May 2012, the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Private Robertson V.C. is a mid-shore patrol vessel. It is one of nine Hero-class patrol vessels ordered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans/Canadian Coast Guard, in September 2009. Each of the nine Hero-class patrol vessels will be named for personnel from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP Officers), Canadian Coast Guard (sailors, aircrew), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (fisheries officers) and Canadian Forces (soldiers, sailors, and aircrew) who are credited with performing exceptional or heroic acts during their service.
CCGS Private Robertson V.C. is named in honour of Private James Peter Robertson, V.C., born in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in October 1883. As a child Robertson moved with his family, first to Springhill, Nova Scotia, then to Medicine Hat, Alberta. He joined the Canadian Army Expeditionary Force in 1915. Robertson earned the Victoria Cross during the final assault on Passchendaele, Belgium, November 6, 1917, with the 27th Infantry Battalion. His platoon was held up by barbed wire and a German machine gun. He was able to dash round to an opening on the flank of the enemy position and rush the gun. After a desperate struggle, Robertson killed four of the crew, and then turned the enemy gun on the remainder. This enabled his platoon to continue towards its objective, with Robertson still firing the captured gun at the enemy as it retreated. Later, when two of his own snipers were wounded in front of their trench, he went out and carried one of them in under severe fire. When he returned for the second sniper, he was killed by a bursting shell.
Inscription found on memorial
[front/devant]
Private Robertson V.C.
[left side/côté gauche]
Garde
Cotière
[right side/côté droit]
Coast
Guard
Note
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