Born in 1890 at Hackney, son of Atholl Bruce (Bank Clerk) and Maude Ellen Robertson. 1901: A Scholar with his family at “Inglewood Lodge” Chelmsford Road, South Woodford. In 1902 his father died. From 1908 Errol was a Clerk with Parr’s Bank. 1911: Still a Bank Clerk at Parr’s Bank Finsbury Square, with his widowed mother and sister at “Prahran” Malmesbury Road, South Woodford. This was also the address given in his Probate.
He enlisted in September 1914 while working for the Bank at Finsbury Square, and was sent to France on 1st May 1915.
In August 1918, 5 Seaforths were sent to Arras, and were involved in The Battle of the Scarpe. On 18th August they relieved 2/7 Kings in the Fampoux Sector. No sooner had they done this, than the Germans mounted an attack in order to capture soldiers for intelligence gathering. Though they failed in this aim, a number of Seaforths were wounded.
On 20th August a strong Seaforths raiding party were sent to attack and if possible capture a sunken road north east of Fampoux. Initially thrown back, they counter attacked and succeeded in taking and holding the road in spite of a rigorous German artillery barrage and ground attack. Next day the Battalion captured a German trench system. In addition to these actions the Seaforths positions were subjected to frequent bombardment with mostly gas shells, causing a considerable number of casualties.
The circumstances in which Errol Robertson sustained his injuries are not recorded; however he was evacuated to England that month. The wounds would have been severe, because in spite of undergoing two operations they caused his death in the Military 3rd Northern General Hospital at Sheffield on 29th April 1919.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Regimental History