Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Person
Linked To
CollectionImage
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you remix, tweak, and build upon our work noncommercially and although your new works must also acknowledge us and be noncommercial, you do not have to license the derivative works on the same terms.
Menu
- People
- Places
- Themes
- Surprise Me
Trooper Douglas Robertson
Description
TitleTrooper Douglas RobertsonSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionDouglas was born at Courtenay on 29 September 1894, eldest son of George and Margaret Robertson. He was educated at Courtenay and at the Darfield High School, and, prior to enlisting worked on his father's farm. He was of a quiet, respectful and kindly disposition and was highly esteemed by all with whom he came in contact. He took a lively interest in the Presbyterian Church, and the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, of which he acted as assistant-secretary for several years. He was also an enthusiastic tennis player. He took a keen interest in the work of the Territorials, and always looked forward to the annual training as something real and essential. He was a member of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. He was 5ft 7in tall with dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair.
Douglas enlisted on 4 April 1916 and was assigned to the 18th Reinforcements, New Zealand Mounted Rifles. He entered the N.C.O. Training Camp, at Featherston, on 8 April, 1916 and was promoted to Corporal on 28 May 1916. Whilst at Featherston he spent a three weeks in hospital with a bout of measles in August 1916. He embarked on board the Manuka on 5 October 1916 to Sydney where he was transferred to the Morea for Suez. He disembarked at Suez on 14 November where he was attached to the Training Regiment and as usual dropped in rank to temporary Lance Corporal although he relinquished even this rank a few weeks later on 6 December. He was transferred to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Brigade on 11th December and joined them in the field being posted to the 8th Squadron on 15th December. In January 1918 on the 19th he was transferred to the 1st Squadron. He was sent to hospital on 23rd suffering from tonsillitis and was admitted at Kantara on 26th and then on to the military hospital at Choubra on 29th. From there to Heliopolis on 5th June and finally discharged to duty at Moascar on 18 June. He re-joined his Brigade in the field on 24 June and as his obituary notes “saw a good deal of fighting in Palestine, and twice had his horses killed under him.” He was sent to rest camp at Port Said on 18th May 1918 returning to Moascar on 25 June. He re-joined the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Brigade and was posted to 1st Squadron in the field on 30th June. Some of this time would have been spent in the Jordan Valley, an area plagued by malaria carrying mosquitos. One of many struck down Douglas was sent to hospital and admitted to the Anzac Receiving Station on 6th October. These and other medical forces had been set up to cope with an expected outbreak. By mid October more than 1200 cases of malaria, largely due to Plasmodium falciparum, were occurring in a single week, with nearly 8% of the force requiring evacuation because of malaria. Douglas was admitted first to hospital in Gaza and then, as his condition worsened to “dangerously ill”, to the 24th Stationary Hospital Kantara. It was there that he died of malaria and pneumonia, on October 26th, aged only 21. He was buried in the Kantara War Cemetery the following day. In New Zealand Douglas is remembered on the Malvern County War Memorial.
First NameDouglasLast NameRobertsonFamilySingleEldest son of George and Margaret RobertsonDate of Birth29 September 1894Place of BirthCourtenayDate of Death26 October 1918Place of DeathEgyptCause of DeathDied of sicknessAge at Death25
Douglas enlisted on 4 April 1916 and was assigned to the 18th Reinforcements, New Zealand Mounted Rifles. He entered the N.C.O. Training Camp, at Featherston, on 8 April, 1916 and was promoted to Corporal on 28 May 1916. Whilst at Featherston he spent a three weeks in hospital with a bout of measles in August 1916. He embarked on board the Manuka on 5 October 1916 to Sydney where he was transferred to the Morea for Suez. He disembarked at Suez on 14 November where he was attached to the Training Regiment and as usual dropped in rank to temporary Lance Corporal although he relinquished even this rank a few weeks later on 6 December. He was transferred to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Brigade on 11th December and joined them in the field being posted to the 8th Squadron on 15th December. In January 1918 on the 19th he was transferred to the 1st Squadron. He was sent to hospital on 23rd suffering from tonsillitis and was admitted at Kantara on 26th and then on to the military hospital at Choubra on 29th. From there to Heliopolis on 5th June and finally discharged to duty at Moascar on 18 June. He re-joined his Brigade in the field on 24 June and as his obituary notes “saw a good deal of fighting in Palestine, and twice had his horses killed under him.” He was sent to rest camp at Port Said on 18th May 1918 returning to Moascar on 25 June. He re-joined the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Brigade and was posted to 1st Squadron in the field on 30th June. Some of this time would have been spent in the Jordan Valley, an area plagued by malaria carrying mosquitos. One of many struck down Douglas was sent to hospital and admitted to the Anzac Receiving Station on 6th October. These and other medical forces had been set up to cope with an expected outbreak. By mid October more than 1200 cases of malaria, largely due to Plasmodium falciparum, were occurring in a single week, with nearly 8% of the force requiring evacuation because of malaria. Douglas was admitted first to hospital in Gaza and then, as his condition worsened to “dangerously ill”, to the 24th Stationary Hospital Kantara. It was there that he died of malaria and pneumonia, on October 26th, aged only 21. He was buried in the Kantara War Cemetery the following day. In New Zealand Douglas is remembered on the Malvern County War Memorial.
First NameDouglasLast NameRobertsonFamilySingleEldest son of George and Margaret RobertsonDate of Birth29 September 1894Place of BirthCourtenayDate of Death26 October 1918Place of DeathEgyptCause of DeathDied of sicknessAge at Death25
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageMalvern War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryKantara War CemeteryMalvern County War MemorialOccupation before EnlistingFarmer Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Mounted RiflesEnlistment Details4th April 1916Service Number17363 Reinforcement18th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. Seaton
Trooper Douglas Robertson. Selwyn Stories, accessed 17/11/2025, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/312
