14 The Ypres Times.
ROBERTSON, 2nd Lieutenant Clement,
S.R., T./Lieut., A./Capt. Tank Corps,
Royal West Surrey Regiment. -iu.
For most conspicuous bravery in leading
his tanks in attack under heavy shell,
machine gun and rifle fire, over ground which
had been heavily ploughed by shell fire.
Captain Robertson, knowing the risk of the
tanks missing the way, continued to lead
them on foot, guiding them carefulfy and
patiently towards their objective, although
he must have known that his action would
almost inevitably cost him his life.
This gallant officer was killed after his
objective had been reached, but his skilful
leading had already ensured successful
action.
His utter disregard of danger and devotion
to duty afford an example of outstanding
valour.
London Gazette, 18th December, 1917.
We are indebted to The Royal Tank Corps
Journal for the following account
One of the most celebrated and at the
same time most interesting names in the
annals of the Royal Tank Corps is that of
Captain Clement Robertson, V.C., the first
recipient of the highest decoration for valour
in this Corps.
Prior to the War he had been engaged in
business in Egypt. This he abandoned at the
outbreak of hostilities to take up a com
mission in the Queen's Regiment, and at the
end of 1916 he transferred to the 1st
Battalion Heavy Branch, Machine Gun
Corps, of which battalion he was one of the
original officers.
As a subaltern he was a tank commander
and later received a section in No. 3
Company and the rank of Captain.
During 1917 the members of the 1st
Battalion were frequently engaged in the
Ypres Salient, and each action they fought
was a severe test of man and machine. If
it can be said that the tanks were often
unable to cope with the peculiarly adverse
circumstances, the same cannot be said of
the crews. Officers and men were endowed
with that heroic spirit which laughs at
peril and makes light of the most trying
conditions. It is well for the Corps that
such was the case for during those dark
days in the salient it was apparent to all
that the tanks were putting up a fight
against impossible odds, and what success
they had was due to the almost super
human courage and endurance of the men
who manned them.
The basic principle of the tank was to
save the lives of our infantry by making a
way through the embarrassing wire en
tanglements and destroying the deadly
machine-gun nests. This was ever present
in the minds of those cooped up within the
steel-clad monsters, stimulating them to
further effort and encouraging them to give
of their best. That sea of mud, a veritable
slough of despair, inspired our comrades
with an enthusiasm that resulted in some
of the most remarkably courageous deeds
ever performed by men. Not a square inch
of the ground in that blood-steeped line but
was marked by the enemy's guns not a
