The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (490) Private Colin Ernest Robertson, 7th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (490) Private Colin Ernest Robertson, 7th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

490 Private Colin Ernest Robertson, 7th Battalion, AIF
KIA 25 April 1915
Story delivered 20 April 2018

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Colin Ernest Robertson.

Colin Robertson was born to Henry and Florence Robertson on 4 July 1891 at Pyramid Hill on Victoria’s northern plains. His father, Henry, worked for the Victorian Railways and was the local station master.

Robertson attended Charlton Primary School and Drouin Secondary School. By the time the First World War began, he was working as a clerk for the Commonwealth Bank at Shepparton and had served for three years with the Werribee and Shepparton Rifle Clubs.

He enlisted on 25August 1914 at Broadmeadows, and joined the newly-raised 7th Battalion. After some initial training, Robertson embarked with his battalion from Melbourne on the 19th of October for service abroad.

Rather than travel to England, which was in the grip of a harsh winter, the AIF was sent to Egypt, where the men trained at Mena Camp, just outside of Cairo. During times of leave, they ventured to see the sights of Cairo and its surroundings, including the pyramids.

Robertson embarked with the 7th Battalion from Alexandria on the 4th of April, bound for Lemnos in preparation for the forthcoming Gallipoli campaign.

Robertson came ashore on Gallipoli with the second wave during the landing on 25 April 1915. In the confusion, he became separated from his company, and by the afternoon had joined some New Zealanders fighting near a position that would become known as Courtney’s Post. It was the last time he was seen alive.

Initially listed as missing in action, investigations later determined that Colin Robertson had been killed in the afternoon of 25 April 1915. In a letter to his family, Lieutenant Colonel Harold “Pompey” Elliott stated that Robertson had been shot through the head and chest and died instantly in the vicinity of Courtney’s Post. He was 23 years old.

Given a hasty battlefield burial, no trace could be found of him during the campaign or following the end of the war, and his name was later added to the Lone Pine Memorial.

Colin Robertson’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Colin Ernest Robertson, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section