Christison, Robert Colin (1891 - 1915)

Lieutenant, 10th Bn. Gordon Highlanders

Buried at Loos Memorial

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

The eldest son of Mr and Mrs George Christison, 2 Kelvinside Gardens, Robert Colin Christison (better known as Bertie) was born on 22nd February 1891, and received his education at Hillhead High School and Glasgow University. At School he took a leading part in athletics, winning many medals and other trophies in the various departments of sport. He was captain of the Rugby team and a sergeant in the Junior Officers' Training Corps. He was deeply attached to his old School, and devoted much of his leisure to forwarding its interests. He was for a time secretary, and afterwards president, of the Literary Club, which flourished greatly under his genial rule.

On leaving School, he entered Glasgow University, where he graduated as Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Soon after war began he was given a commission in the 10th Gordons. Lieutenant Christison was the beau-ideal of a soldier. Tall, broad-shouldered, athletic, he was a striking figure in his waving tartan. At Loos, on 25th September 1915, owing to the illness of his captain, he led his company into battle, and was last seen on the slopes of Hill 70, wounded, while gallantly rallying his men. His commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace wrote regarding him,

"I thought so highly of your son and his qualities of leading that I specially selected him for promotion. He was doing a captain's duties, and commanded his company at the Battle of Loos and the taking of Hill 70. I have the highest possible opinion of your son as a man and an officer, and the suspense about his fate is a great personal distress to me and to everyone, for he was universally popular."

Reproduced with permission from the University of Glasgow Roll of Honour: http://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-intro/