The Ypres Times.
45
day passed but took its heavy toil from
amongst our bravest troops.
It was here that Captain Clements
Robertson carried out his notions of duty
with that amazing coolness and surpassing
devotion which makes the manner of his
death an inspiration not only to our Corp,
or even to our country, but to all races of
mankind throughout the ages.
As a man, Captain Robertson was one of
the best of fellows. He was very popular,
both with his brother-officers and with the
N.C.O.s and men under his command, for
his unfailing cheerfulness and camaraderie
won for him a place in the hearts of all those
with whom he associated. In a man of fine
mould, who is sensible to the influence of
the regard in which he is held by his com
rades, such feelings of affection must have
ennobled the high sense of duty that guided
his actions and redoubled the determination
to remain steadfast in his hour of trial. The
Third Battle of Ypres, which commenced on
31st July, 1917, was still in progress on 30th
September, when an action was determined
upon against Reutel, and the tanks of No. 3
Company 1st Tank Battalion were ordered
to co-operate with the attacking infantry.
This action necessitated the crossing of the
Reutelbeck, a muddy stream which
separated the opposing lines of trenches,
and the dislodging of the enemy from his
positions on the further side. From Sep
tember 30th until October 3rd, Captain
Robertson carried out a personal reconnais
sance on the ground over which his tanks
would have to advance, preparing the way
and taping down a route from Stirling Castle
to Black Watch Corner. This he did not
complete until late at night on 3rd October,
during the whole of which period he was
under the intense shell fire of the enemy.
He then returned to his section and brought
them up safely to their starting point, from
which they were to launch their attack at
6 a.m. on October 4th, two and a half hours
after they reached it.
Having successfully supervised the cros
sing of the river at a suitable point under
heavy shell fire and a perfect hail of
machine-gun and rifle bullets, he then
resumed the leadership of his section,
refusing to seek shelter within a tank. For
now the situation was most critical. There
was a road along which the heavy cumber
some machines could advance, but for a
matter of five hundred yards the artillery
had blown it beyond recognition and on
either side was a deep morass—a veritable
death-trap should the tanks miss their way
and become embedded in itbut, above all,
the success of the infantry depended on the
timely arrival of the tanks. With an in
domitable courage and a calmness which
bespeaks something of the amazing self-
possession inherent in the man, Captain
Robertson determined to guide his machines
on foot to the visible part of the road,
though in so doing he must have known that
death was inevitable. The enemy in whose
view he was operating, and who were fully
aware of his intentions, were bringing every
means of fire to bear upon him and his
tanks. It is in moments such as this that
now and again man is blessed with a single-
mindedness which is completely absorbed
in one purposeduty it is the consumma
tion of these inspired moments that bids
the rest of humanity look high and hope,
that points the way to the exaltation of the
spirit and the curbing of the flesh that will
assuredly lead man to a higher plane where
he may more fully realise the destiny for
which he is intended.
As he was thus guiding his section to the
road that led to success, Captain Robertson
fell riddled with bullets—but not before his
leading tanks had reached their objective
and he had rendered possible the success
which followed.
May the lives of men such as this one,
and more particularly the glorious manner
of their deaths, inculcate in us that spirit
of devotion to duty and negation of self
which is the only true realisation of life.
MOONLIGHT, 1917.
Shrilling, and staying of feet
Leisurely emptying street
Born of a cry in the night
Take cover!
Stirring, the roar of the guns,
Welcome to night-riding Huns.
Heed you the sky-sweeping light—
Take cover!
A. R. T
