We have no evidence that a John Robertson was around the Wokingham area during or before the First World War. The nearest is a John Robertson of Tilehurst, near Reading and a part of the regular Royal Berks 1st Battalion.
We have received the help of Andrew Radgick, who is researching the records for Old Bracknell and Crowthorne. By a process of elimination Andrew comes to the conclusion that John Robertson of Reading is that who is named on the Memorial. There are however, even issues with John Robertson of Reading’s records. He was a part of the 1st Battalion, but is not named on the 1911 census when they were stationed in Dover, England (the 2nd Battalion were placed in India at the time). He could well have joined the 1st during the war. However, a John Robertson of Reading was not to be found in the same census at all. There are no parents or any family members named in Commonwealth War Graves records (although this was not uncommon). And after searching some 500 records, no birth in Tilehurst either.
Andrew, wrote to us in January 2012:
“I see, like me, you are struggling with the name John Robertson on your Wokingham Remembers project (he is listed at Wokingham St Sebastians so is on my list for research as part of their parish falls in Crowthorne).
I have looked at all the SDGW entries, cross-referencing them against the CWGC entries, and eliminating all but one. I have also looked at deaths, both civil and military, on FMP but can’t find him. The surname Robertson is quite rare in Berkshire, and I can only find three births with the name John. One is too old (born in 1860), another died in 1937. That leaves one – Alfred John Robertson, born 1874 in Crowthorne. By the time of WWI, he still has one brother living there, working at Broadmoor (attendants were on the protected profession list until 1918).
I even asked W St Seb if they had contact with any descendants, but again drew a blank. I did try tracing the family but most of his brothers disappeared in the Army, the only exception being one who had one son who, in turn, had no children.
So the one man I am left with is Pte John Robertson, 10445, 1/Royal Berks Regiment, born Tilehurst, resident Stevenage, attested at Reading, listed on the Thiepval Memorial.
Now, Alfred John is missing from both the 1901 and 1911 censuses, which implies he is away somewhere, serving in the Army. The 2/Royal Berkshires were in India for many years. Also, there is no mention of a Robertson from Tilehurst in any census. The more I eliminate other possibilities (he has not attested in Canada or Australia), the more convinced I am that this might be the man. My next step is to investigate if there is a house called ‘Tilehurst’ (or even ‘Tilers?’) in Crowthorne. This is not such a long shot as it sounds as I have already found one man who resided at “Heatherways, Berkshire” which turned out to be a house on the Wellington College estate”.
Service Record
Name: ROBERTSON, JOHN
Birth Place: Tilehurst, Berkshire
Residence: Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Enlistment Location: Reading
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Royal Berkshire Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Battalion.
Date of Death: 10/03/1917
Service No: 10445
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 11 D. Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Known Residence(s)
Tilehurst, Berkshire
