James Herbert Graham Robertson CBE CStJ (abt. 1879 - 1956)

Born about 1879 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 3 Jul 1956 at about age 77 in Tamahere, Waikato, New Zealand

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Biography

Name: On army forms he sometimes combined his last two names as a surname: Graham-Robertson.

He was born in Dunedin, New Zealand, the son of William Robertson and Wilhelmina Bear Mason^[1].

Educated at Otago Boys' High School.^[2]

MB ChB, University of Otago1904.^[3]

He married Gladys Mabel Gear^[1] in 1910^[4].

In 1911 he was a medical practitioner, living in Johnsonville, Wellington Suburbs, New Zealand.^[5]

FRCS (Edin) 1912.

Served with the 1st NZEF in WW1, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the New Zealand Medical Corps.

He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) in the 1919 Birthday Honours.^[6].

Visiting Dermatologist and Actinotherapist, Wellington Hospital 1924 - 1945.^[2]

In WW2 he served in New Zealand as Senior Medical Officer of Waiouru Military Camp. ^[1] from 1st October 1940 to 10th October 1942. Following illness, he was transferred to the Reserve List^[7] until his retirement in 1948.

On 1st January 1946 he was appointed Commander of the Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem^[8].

In 1948 he lived at Ilchester, Te Horo, Manawatu^[7].

He died on 3rd July 1956^[9].

Research Notes

Birth. Searching the New Zealand BDM produces an exact match on a certificate from 1879^[10]. But his army record states 25th August 1882^[9][7][1].

Sources

• WW2 Army record for Lt. Colonel James Robertson. Images online at NZ government archive..

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Attestation for War Service. New Zealand Military Forces. War form NZ-367. Surname: Robertson. Christian names: James Herbert Graham. Born: Dunedin, 1882. Father: William Robertson, born Airdrie, Scotland. Mother: Wilhelmina Bear Mason, born Leith, Scotland. Occupation: Medical Practitioner. Address: Te Horo, Manawatu. Next of kin: Wife - Gladys Mabel, originally of English nationality. Religion: Presbyterian. Date of Attestation: 6th Sept 1940. Original image accessed at WW2 Army Record, electronic page 8.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} www.ccdhb.org.nz/about-us/history - this site has been restructured and the original personal item for James is not locatable as at August 2021.
3. ↑ New Zealand University Graduates 1870-1963, transcribed by Wendy Leahy.
4. ↑ Births, Deaths & Marriages New Zealand Marriage cert 1910/6597.
5. ↑ New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1911, ref. 5633
6. ↑ Auckland Museum, Online Cenotaph. Record 89645.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Application for War Service Gratuity. New Zealand Armed Forces, form G-1. WW2 Service No. 5/5/1786. Surname: "Graham. Robertson". Christian names: James Herbert. Rank: Lt. Colonel. Address: Ilchester, Te Horo, Manawatu. Dated: 25/1/48. Army Service in New Zealand: 1/10/40 to 10.11.42. Unit: N.Z.M.C., N.Z.T.S. Original image accessed at WW2 Army Record, electronic page 18, and Transfer to Reserve, page 36, and Medical Report, page 42.
8. ↑ Supplement to the London Gazette, 1st January 1946: New Zealand Military Forces. Extract published as New Zealand Army Order 64/1946 No. 8 - original image at WW2 Army Record, electronic page 24.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Notification of Death, form LA-61. Department of Internal Affairs - War Graves Division. File 11389. 1st NZEF Service No. 2/5123. Rank: LT.COL. Name: ROBERTSON James Herbert Graham. Regiment: NZMC. Born 25.8.82. Transferred to Reserve 10.11.42. Decorations: C.B.E., V.D., VEN? Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. Date[of death] 3.7.56. Next of kin: Mrs. G.M. Robertson, Tamahere Road, Hamilton. Original image accessed at Army Record, electronic page 5.
10. ↑ Births, Deaths & Marriages, New Zealand. Birth cert 1879/7838.

See also:

• Death - Births, Deaths & Marriages New Zealand Death cert 1956/30547