Lives of the First World War

Colonel Philip R Robertson, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) returning from a tour of his unit's positions in waterlogged trenches at Bois Grenier in January 1915

Major-General Sir Philip Rynd Robertson (5 April 1866 – 11 May 1936) the eldest surviving son of General J.H.C. Robertson. He was educated at Charterhouse School before entering the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He passed out of Sandhurst in 1886, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on 25 August. Serving in India for the next 13 years, In October 1913, he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed to command the 1st Battalion of the Cameronians On the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the 1st Cameronians saw service with the British Expeditionary Force. They landed in France on 11 August, and on 22 August all four were grouped into the 19th Infantry Brigade for frontline service. Under Robertson's command. on 13 July he was promoted to take over 17th (Northern) Division, From 1919 to 1923 he commanded the 52nd Lowland Division. He retired to Bideford.

Advance to the Aisne. 1st Cameronians; Capt. R. E. Lee and Lt. Col. P. R. Robertson shaving. La Haute Maison, 7 September 1914.

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in the trenches at Houplines, HQ Mess Hut. Left to right; Major R. Oakley, Lieutenant Colonel P. R. Robertson,

The Action at Le Cateau, 26 August 1914: Staff Conference of the Battalion officers of the 1st Cameronians before Le Cateau. From left to right: Captain and Adjutant J C Stormonth-Darling, Major F A C Hamilton, Lieutenant Colonel P R Robertson, Captain A R MacAllan.