James Forbes-Robertson

James Forbes-Robertson VC DSO* MC DL

During the action at Vieux-Berquin, France, on 11–12 April 1918, Lieutenant-Colonel James Forbes-Robertson repeatedly saved the British line from breaking. On four separate occasions, by personal courage and leadership, he steadied his men and prevented a dangerous situation from becoming a disaster.

At one point, he carried out a reconnaissance on horseback in full view of the enemy and under heavy fire, then led a successful counter-attack which re-established the line. When his horse was shot from under him, he continued on foot, moving among the men, restoring confidence, and showing complete disregard for his own safety. On the second day, he lost another horse and again continued on foot until he had organized a new line to which his troops could safely withdraw.

For his actions at Vieux-Berquin, Forbes-Robertson was awarded the Victoria Cross.

After the war, he served with the Army of Occupation and held temporary command of several battalions before becoming commander of the 155th Brigade. He was Mentioned in Despatches three times. On 1 January 1919, he assumed command of the 1/5th Border Regiment at Ivoir on the Meuse, Belgium, and later at Bonn, Germany. He was recalled to Britain in August 1919 and joined the 2nd Border Regiment as second-in-command. Although his rank reverted to Captain, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1921 and, in September 1922, was appointed to command the 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment.

In 1926, he transferred to the Gordon Highlanders and commanded the 2nd Battalion from 1926 to 1930. On 6 August 1927, he married Hilda, younger daughter of Sir Ralph Forster, at Christ Church, Sutton, Surrey. They had three children: Ann, Jean and Kenneth. After living for a time on a rented estate in Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, he retired from the Army in 1934 and settled at “Chardwar” in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire.

During the Second World War, Forbes-Robertson served in the Home Guard from July 1940 to December 1944 and was briefly second-in-command of the local Home Guard under the Duke of Sutherland. He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Sutherland on 3 March 1942. He also attended the Victoria Cross Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on 26 June 1920 and the Victoria Cross Dinner at the House of Lords on 9 November 1929.

James Forbes-Robertson died at his home, Chardwar, Bourton-on-the-Water, on 5 August 1955. He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery, where he is one of four Victoria Cross recipients interred. He is also commemorated at Cheltenham College, on the Border Regiment VC Memorial in Carlisle Cathedral, on the honours board at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, by a candlestick in St Lawrence’s Church, Bourton-on-the-Water, and by a Victoria Cross commemorative stone unveiled on 12 April 2018 at Rydings Park, Brighouse, Yorkshire.

In addition to the Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order and Bar, and Military Cross, Forbes-Robertson received the 1914–15 Star, British War Medal 1914–20, Victory Medal 1914–19 with Mentioned in Despatches oak leaf, Defence Medal 1939–45, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, and Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953.

In March 2006, the Forbes-Robertson family decided to loan his Victoria Cross to the Regimental Museum of the Border Regiment in Carlisle. Following a review and further security improvements, the full Victoria Cross medal group was placed on public display at Carlisle Castle in late September 2006.