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| Reference: |
32057e
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| Caption: | Mr Argyll Robertson, The Depot, Seaforth Highlanders, Fort George. Ian Argyll Robertson was born on 17th July 1913 at Richmond, Surrey, and educated at Winchester and Trinity College, Oxford, before being commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders. Posted as adjutant of the regimental depot at Fort George in April 1939, he escaped the fate of many of his regimental contemporaries who were made prisoners of war at St Val?ry in the following year. During the Second World War he proved a capable leader and an excellent trainer of troops in the 51st (Highland) Division, serving in the North African and Sicily campaigns of 1942 and 1943 as a company commander in the 5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, as a temporary commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, and as brigade major of the 152 (Seaforth and Cameron) Brigade. After attending staff college at Haifa, he was posted as brigade major to 231 (Malta) Brigade of the 50th Division, one of the assault brigades in the Normandy invasion of June 1944. In the postwar years he filled a wide range of appointments: AAG at HQ 15 Corps in Malaya and Java; service with 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders at the start of the Malayan emergency; a student at the Joint Services Staff College course; commanding officer of the regimental depot at Fort George; and GSO1 of the 51st (Highland) Division TA at Perth. In 1954 he returned to the 1st Battalion as commanding officer. It was based in the Canal Zone of Egypt and, in June 1955, its main body was moved at short notice by air to Aden for what was expected to be an operational tour of a few weeks to assist the Aden Protectorate Levies in the troublesome Western Aden protectorate. In fact, the battalion remained in the region for five months. After commanding the support weapons wing at the School of Infantry, Netheravon, he took command of 127 (East Lancashire) Infantry Brigade (TA). A spell at the National Defence College, New Delhi, was followed in 1963 by a move to the School of Infantry, Warminster, as commandant. From 1964 to 1966 he commanded the 51st (Highland) Division (TA) before moving to the MoD as director of equipment policy. He retired from the Army in 1968 aged 55. As a younger man Robertson played cricket for the Army and golf for the Highland Brigade. He also had a keen interest in carpentry, painting and music. For many years he was the representative in Scotland for Messrs Spink & Son. During his retirement he was a Deputy Lieutenant and, from 1980 until 1988, Vice-Lord Lieutenant, Highland Region (Nairn). He was appointed MBE in 1947 and CB in 1968. Ian Robertson died on 10th January 2010. He married, in 1939, Marjorie Duncan, who survived him with their two daughters. See also ref: H-0305a-f. |
| Added: | 14/06/2016 |
| Keywords: |
soldier military army kilt tartan
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