Alexander Robertson, 1896-1970

Abstract

Alexander Robertson was born on 12 February 1896 on the sixty-acre farm at Charlesfield, Auchterless (on the Hatton Estate) Aberdeenshire. He was the son of Andrew Robertson, farmer and Jane (née Cantlay). Robertson was one of three children, his twin sisters predeceasing him. His schoolboy education was first at Auchterless School where he was accorded the distinction of Dux and subsequently at Turriff Higher Grade School which he left with the distinction of Dux in 1914. Robertson originally intended to enter farming like his father but his mother persuaded him to further his education and he entered the University of Aberdeen in 1914. Like most Scottish students of the time he took an M.A. degree course, but the subjects he studied were unusual in that there was a preponderance of science. Botany, chemistry, geology, Latin, mathematics, physics, political economy and zoology were all presented at elementary level and in 1915-1916 he was placed first in the chemistry class, already adumbrating his later ability. In March 1916 he enlisted in the Special Brigade, Royal Engineers, and was concerned with gas warfare until commissioned in the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders in March 1917. He served at home and in France and after being badly gassed on the Western Front was discharged from the forces in 1918 with the rank of Lieutenant. He then reactivated his studies at Aberdeen after a break of almost three years and obtained his M.A. from that University in 1919. As Robertson had already completed a substantial proportion of his Arts course before going into the Services he was refused an ex-serviceman’s grant but he was awarded a Scholarship (£150 per annum for three years) from the Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund with the aid of which he proceeded to study for a degree in Science at the University of Glasgow where G. G. Henderson was Head of the Chemistry Department.