William James Robertson (1895 - 1971)

Born 17 Sep 1895 in Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 7 Mar 1971 at age 75 in South Australia, Australia

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Biography

William was born in 1895. He is the son of William Robertson and Ann Swanson. ^[1]

After his schooling he joined the Seaforth Highlanders Regiment and served in France during World War I. On his return home in 1919, he felt he had been abandoned by his family so he migrated to South Australia on board the ‘Berrima’ on 23rd March 1920. Although he was an engineer, he developed a land agent business which became a successful enterprise. Before migrating he had met Florence Mary Ann Catherine Pitcher, a teacher, who later migrated to South Australia on 19th September 1925 with her family on the ‘Oronsay’. The couple were married on 2nd December 1925 in All Souls Church, St Peters. William’s brothers, Donald and David, had arrived in South Australia in time to be in the wedding. David Robertson and Florence’s mother, Mrs Pitcher, were witnesses at the marriage.

On 1st March 1927, their only child, William Godfrey Pitcher Robertson, was born at Dulwich. There were always family gatherings at the Tusmore residence over the years attended by his brother, David, and family and the Herriot family who were cousins. There was plenty of lawn space both back and front of the house where children could play. The best treat was being able to have some of Florie’s home made ice cream, beaten in a mix master and frozen in the refrigerator. Christmas was often spent at 50 Kennaway Street, Tusmore when on most occasions the children would receive books as presents. There was a polished wood floor in the entrance hall and a lambs-wool mat that often became a sleeping place for the young ones.

Florence passed away at their Tusmore home on 12th July 1955 at the age of sixty four. Nearly twenty years later, William, who was living at Kensington Park, died on 7th March 1971. Both are buried in the North Road Cemetery. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Mark Dodd.
2. ↑ Family history collated by niece Anne Hausler