Major Hugh Robertson

These are photos of Major Hugh Robertson, from Nigg in Scotland, and a former pupil of Tain Academy.

Hugh was with the 5th Battalion of the 51st Highland Division. The 5th Battalion was charged with replacing the original 5th known as "Scotland's Pride" when that was sacrificed at St. Valery-en-Caux, at the time of Dunkirk, the first time they had been defeated. Many a friend who fought with Linda's father, could be heard to sigh: "Oh...St. Valery....St. Valery...". "The Beaches of St. Valery" is a song explaining what the Seaforths went through in their final hours of fighting. It talks of the despair they felt, completely deserted by high command, and given an impossible job.

As Lieutenant, Hugh Robertson received the MC [Military Cross] for gallantry in 1942. The newspaper clipping was kept by Hugh's mother. Hugh's daughter Linda recalls that her grandmother kept it as Hugh hadn't believed he had been awarded the MC and thought his mother had become confused while he was overseas. The date of print and original publication is unknown. Hugh drew up a map of the formation during the Battle of El Alamein, to explain what the situation was, when he was speaking on his experiences: "Supercharge" objectives and achievements of operations under Command 2 New Zealand Division 2-3 November 1942.