John Ross Robertson
This is a rather exceptional example of multiple memorials for one person within a family. Scott has researched this memorial and the twin of it that this is based on at Montrose.
Location: Dunfermline Cemetery,
Town/village: Halbeath Road, Dunfermline
County: Fife
Postcode: KY11 8QR
Details on cross:
Starting at the top of the shaft:
Small metal GRU plate stamped with G R U, two small nails
(carved)
ERS TARB DEN HELDEN TOD
(He died a hero’s death)
On the cross beam (carved):
EIN ENGL FLIEGER OFFZ
(An English Flying officer/airman)
Nailed over these words are 4 rows of GRU tags:
Lt. J. Ross. Robertson
Fife & Forfar Yeomanry
Attd. R.A.F.
12-5-17
On the shaft under the cross beam:
Imperial German Cross
12.5.17
Text type: The gothic German lettering is carved into the wood, the English lettering is on GRU metal tags
Cross dimensions (millimetres please)
Shaft Height: 1720
Cross beam width: 850
Width of wood: 135
Thickness or depth: 50
Other information
Mounting to wall: The cross is half buried into the bank underneath the family grave stone that also contains an inscription to Lt Robertson.
Detailing:
Evidence of use in field: None that can be attributed to use in the field. It’s been half buried for 99 years.
Surface insertion depth (if apparent): None
Finish: Green painted, much faded. (This may in fact be verdisgris as the cross appears to be cast metal rather than wood)
Condition: Good condition, the wood isn’t rotten or damaged. There are two chips on the left-hand arm that look suspiciously like bullet marks (which would be consistent with it being partially cast from the original at Montrose)
Other information, notes and observations: As mentioned the cross is in the bank below the family grave stone. The inscription relevant to Lt Robertson says:
John Ross Robertson
Lieut: Fife and Forfar Yeomanry
And Royal Flying Corps
1913 – 1917
Born January 2 1894
Killed in Action May 12 1917
While flying above the German
Lines and buried at the cemetery of Marquion France
Survey and Photos Scott Galloway
Date of survey: 29 July 2016
To clarify the German..
Er starb den Heldentod = he died the hero’s death.
Ein engl Flieger Offz, short for Ein Englischer Flieger Offizier = An English aviator officer.
Thank you for the clarification Suzanne, good stuff.
I am under the impression that the cross is made of metal. There is a typo in Cross details viz. Estarben instead of Erstarben
Hi Archie, thank you for the reminder this was on the update list.
ERS TARB DEN HELDEN TOD – He died a hero’s death
We believe it is probably a bronze cast.